Beginning, Previous Section, Section VI, Next Section
Act IX Scene VIII
Massachusetts General Hospital
Julia was frantic on the way to the hospital, she wasn't sure what was going on and at times panicked to the point where the EMTs were pumping her with anti-anxiety drugs. Ted watched helplessly as her breathing would become more and more labored. She seized on the way to the hospital. Once at the hospital, they whisked Julia into a trauma room and checked her over for the needle prick. They took enough blood to satisfy anyone's craving. Ted sat in the waiting area.
He went over and over again why someone would want to hurt her and every time came up with nothing. No one would want to hurt her. She bothered nobody, she kept to herself. Ted went to the payphone and phoned his campaign manager to tell him what had happened.
"I don't want this happening to everyone on my staff. Find out anything you can, please."
"I can't believe that someone would do this to Julia. What sort of animal…"
"Inhuman animal, Pete. Just warn the staff, especially the women. If they want, I'll provide security guards to escort them home or to their cars. If need be."
Peter said he thought that to be a great idea and would look into it. Finally the doctor came out to give Ted a status on Julia's condition.
"Everything is inconclusive until we get the blood results, but it seems as though she was given a mind-altering drug. The thick tongue and the seizing is a reaction to whatever drug they used. I suspect they mixed two drugs together, to keep her quiet. However, the dementia is getting worse. We will do everything we can to make her comfortable. She has been adamantly calling for Christopher. Perhaps you should bring him here."
Ted looked dumbstruck at the doctor. "He's in D.C."
"With her dementia, I would definitely call him. He may be able to calm her down. I'm very sorry about this. The police have been notified?" Ted nodded his head and the doctor acknowledged that he would do everything in his power to help her.
Ted immediately went to the phone. The phone only rang a couple of times before it was answered. A seductive sultry voice answered sleepily.
"Chris Darcy, please. I was told he was there."
"Yes, of course, may ask who's calling?"
"Ted Bingley, this is very urgent. Please just get him on the phone." Lila looked at the phone and turned to Chris to wake him up. She thrust the phone in his hand.
"What? And this better be good!" Chris said angrily.
"Chris, It's Julia…"
"What? What about her?"
"She was walking home last night, someone stuck her with a needle. She's in bad shape." Ted broke down on the other end.
"What they hell are you saying. What do you mean she was stuck with a needle? You have people in Boston just sticking people?"
"The dementia is getting worse, and she's calling for you. You are the only one who can calm her down. Chris you have to come." Chris looked to Lila as she was giving him strange looks, she was clueless as to what was going on with the conversation and wanted an in.
"I'll be there. Is she… Is she okay?" he tried to ask quietly so Lila didn't hear.
"I haven't seen her, Chris. I honestly don't know. I've phoned her mother, and she's flying from San Diego." Chris sighed and wiped his eyes with his hand.
"I'm leaving for England with Lila in a couple of days, we'll fly up to Boston. We can catch a shuttle up. I'll see you around lunch time." Chris and Ted hung up. Lila had already kicked the coverlet off and headed into the closet to get her suitcase.
"So we're going to Boston?" Chris nodded his head. "What happened?" She tossed some clothes aimlessly into the suitcase.
"Julia was attacked. They stuck her with a needle."
"Oh God, is she okay? Chris, this is getting too dangerous. I think we need to regroup and recant the article. I mean first me, now Julia. Someone big is trying to tell you something."
Chris stopped and stared at her. "Lila, what the hell is going on with you! You are not one to back down on a story. Especially one as explosive as this one! You're crumbling in front of me. I want the Lila who didn't give a toss about what the world thought. I want the Lila that was strong and demanding. I want the Lila that flaunted me in front of her former lover."
Lila sat on the bed and softly cried. "I'm afraid, Chris. I was a warning for you to back down, Julia's been injured and God only knows who else." Chris sat down beside her and pulled her close to him.
"Lila, nobody will hurt you again. I promise you that. Don't lose your backbone because of these jellyfishing men who attack women."
She turned into him and leaned against his chest, "I love you, Chris." He nuzzled her neck and softly kissed it.
"I love you too, Lila."
Massachusetts General Hospital
Julia's mother, Spring, rushed through the corridors looking for Ted Bingley. When she finally came upon him, he was sitting with Christopher Darcy and Lila was on his arm. She shot a murderous look at Chris.
"What the hell is he doing here!" She demanded. Ted whipped around and saw Mrs. Yukimota.
"Spring," Ted started.
"I want to know why Mr. Darcy is here. He has no right to be here." She became choked with emotion.
"Spring, Julia was calling for me. I've just arrived myself and haven't seen her yet. I am concerned about her welfare."
"Ha! Like you even know what that is. You have no soul, Christopher Darcy. You destroyed my daughter!" Chris pulled her aside and into a small room.
"What are you talking about? I did no such thing."
"You cast her aside, you threw her away most unceremoniously. After you promised me you'd take care of her. She loves you. She loves you more than anyone, she called me not two weeks ago, telling me how lonely and horrible she felt. You hurt her. It is most unforgivable!"
Chris reeled at the news. "She left me, Spring. She wanted nothing to do with me. She wanted the strength and security of Ted."
"NO! She wanted to give you time to grieve. She and Ted only made love recently. Yes, Chris, she waited for you to come back for her. She kept putting Ted off until she realized that you were never coming back!"
Chris paced back and forth, he glanced at Spring who's tears had stopped and now her face was flushed with anger. He didn't want this to be happening. He thought back to the Virtual Reality and how he had possessed Julia. Had he known that was her in the other room, he would have made love to her.
"But she left me." He said sadly. "I loved her so much and she walked out of my life, and went with Ted." He said quietly.
"Chris, don't feel sorry for yourself. You needed time and she was willing to give it to you."
Chris put his face in his hands and thought of what she was telling him.
"She told me how you cast her aside when she went to your office two weeks ago. She thought you hated her." Spring knew she was delving the knife deeper into his back. "She said witnessing you and that woman, nearly destroyed her. She wanted to run into your arms and kiss you…"
"Why are you telling me this?" he asked in a choked voice.
"Because you did this to her. Because you promised to take care of her forever and lied to me!"
"I didn't lie to you or her for that fact…"
Spring sized him up and walked right up to him. She stood directly in his face. "Do you still love my daughter?"
Chris shot a stunned look at her and backed away.
"Tell me if you love my daughter or not!"
"I… I can't answer that."
Spring came even more dangerously close, "I will not let you leave until you tell me." Chris again backed away and sat down. "Tell me if you still love her."
"Yes, I still love her."
Spring left him to ponder his thoughts.
Julia thrashed in her bed and tried to pull the restraints off. Several doctors had to come in and sedate her, but nothing was working. Whatever drug she was given was too powerful. Spring was allowed to visit her daughter, but she barely recognized her, and then she only asked for Christopher Darcy. Spring left her daughter in a worse state.
She again came upon Chris and told him, "Don't do anything to impede her recovery. She is very…" she broke down, "fragile."
Finally able to enter the room, Chris saw Julia tear at the leather bindings, the chaffing at her wrists started to bleed. She was yelling obscenities at the doctor when she stopped and gave him big smile.
"Come here, love." She tried to outstretch her arms, but saw they were still tied down. "Will someone take off these damn restraints! Dammit, I'm a woman, not an animal."
"Hello, Julia."
"Hello, Julia? That's all you say. Get over here and give me a kiss." Chris looked at her oddly.
"Julia, what are you doing. Why won't you talk to Ted?"
Julia sighed and tried to pull at the restraints again. "Dammit, will someone untie me! They are holding me against my will, love. You came to rescue me. And don't talk about that sniveling idiot of a cousin you have. I can't tell him how many times that you and I are a couple and that you and I will be getting married. Did you bring a rat with you?" she became hysterical. Chris walked over to her and tried to hold her down. She managed to calm down a bit.
She started nibbling at his neck. "I would wrap my arms around you, but I can't. Oh, Christopher, what took you so long in coming to me." She licked his face.
"Julia, you shouldn't do that, people are watching us?" he tried to sound soothing, but she became upset all the same.
"You! You're sleeping with Natalie again! You just have to get your rocks off, don't you. Kiss me, Chris. Please. Remember the first time we made love. Chris, please kiss me."
"Julia, this is… Do you know what happened to you?"
"Christopher Darcy, I've loved you since the first time I laid eyes on you. When you looked at me and I was crying. I fought those feelings, I tried to hate you. I thought you wouldn't want a strange-looking creature like me." Tears formed in her eyes.
"I miss you, Chris." Chris doubled back.
"What did you say?"
"Oh God, I said I want to kiss you, Chris. Get these bloody things off of me." She pulled once more on the restraints.
Chris came closer to her and stroked her hair out of her eyes. It tore him apart to see her like this. This demented Julia was not the woman he'd loved once upon a time. This woman was frantic and frenetic. This woman was…
"Dammit, Chris Darcy, kiss me now." She managed to pull one restraint off, and with a bloody hand, she pulled him close and kissed him. Chris found himself unable to back away.
"Oh Julia," he moaned lightly. "You have to stop this."
"No, Christopher. I can't stop it, I love you too damn much."
"I know, darling."
Julia released him and covered her eyes with her arm. "You didn't want me anymore, you promised to come back for me. And you didn't." Julia started crying. Chris smiled.
"Julia, I'm sorry. I've hurt you and I didn't mean to. I do love you."
Julia bit her lip and saw the burns on her wrists and started crying. "What happened to me?"
He held her close to his chest and rocked her. "Let's not think about what happened to you right now. Just sit quietly."
Julia snuggled close and closed her eyes. Listening to the rhythmic beating of his heart. He continued to rub her shoulders and her arms, listening to her breathing as it became more regular.
"Chris, will you…"
"What, Julia." She reached up and brought his face to hers. She kissed him softly and passionately. He kissed her back, softly and passionately.
"…Make love to me."
End of Scene VIII
Act IX Scene IX
Massachusetts General Hospital
Chris held onto Julia tightly and waited the agonizing two minutes before the team of doctors were able to come in and restrain her one more time. She thrashed like a woman possessed, with her free hand she managed to scratch at Chris' face. "I'm sorry, Julia." He whispered into her hair as she continued to shout obscenities at him.
"You bastard! You set me up!" The doctor was able to give her a strong dose of a sedative and the effects were starting rather quickly. Julia stopped the thrashing, but now her feet and arms were tied down.
Chris yelled to the doctor, "She was lucid. You didn't need to do this."
The doctor grabbed Chris' arm roughly and pulled him away, "She has lucid moments and then she becomes enraged as you've just seen. We are doing everything in our power to help her, not hurt her. You've helped us immensely, perhaps you should join the family." The doctor indicated the door. Chris looked back one more time at Julia and saw that she had become more catatonic, than relaxed.
"Just take good care of her," he said softly.
Lila sat alone waiting for Chris while Spring and Ted were busy chatting in a corner. A red welt had developed on Chris' face from the scratch. As soon as Ted saw Chris, he rushed over to him.
"What happened?" he asked anxiously.
"Whatever that animal gave her, it's affecting her mind. She becomes lucid for brief periods then she lapses back into this horrible dementia. I was able to calm her down," he shot out bitterly, "just in time for the doctors to pump her with enough drugs to knock out an elephant."
Ted pointed his head toward Lila, "What happened to her?"
"She was attacked two days ago at the paper. Ted, we need to discuss this, perhaps over coffee?" Ted nodded his head in acquiescence. Chris called and made a reservations at the Boston Harbour Hotel for him and Lila and sent her on her way in a taxi.
Ted and Chris headed over to Legal Seafood's for a quick lunch and a quiet place to sit and talk. Ted looked so positively awful that Chris ordered him a stiff drink. Chris watched him as he drank it quickly.
"Another one?" Ted shook his head.
"No, I'll have a coffee now. So what did you want to talk to me about?"
Chris sighed and played with the straw in his water glass, "I know where the money came from."
"And?"
"I want you to tell me everything about this campaign. I want you to tell me about every dollar you get and every dollar you spend. Who gave you the financing originally?"
"Your father," Chris looked stony-eyed at him, "Chris, your father did not give me ten million dollars."
"I know that!"
"So just tell me where the money came from…" he was agitated.
"Are you on the take?"
Ted laughed at him, "Yeah, right. Next question."
"Are you on the take?" Chris' expression led Ted to believe that his cousin was not kidding anymore. He looked up at Chris.
"No."
Chris continued to study his cousin and knew him to be painfully truthful at all times, and realized that he would not lie about being on the take. But something the source told him, to look to his cousin. "The money was deposited by Bio-Engineering firms. They are blackmailing you."
"What? How can they blackmail me when they haven't asked anything of me. I haven't even been elected yet!"
"They bought the election. You're in. They deposited large sums of money into the campaign funds of people who were against the cloning bill. Once you're elected into office, the bill comes up before the house. They remind you of their generous nature and demand that you vote affirmative; if you don't, well then all hell breaks loose, most likely you with broken legs and recount of the election."
"That is absolutely unbelievable, Chris." Chris pulled out the article that was printed in yesterday's Washington Post, Ted looked up at Chris in astonishment, and finished reading the article. Chris had quirked his eyebrows up when Ted let out a long whistle. "So explain the connection between Julia and Lila?"
"I'm getting too close to the hottest story this country has seen in this century. I don't know why they attacked Julia, it doesn't make sense. Lila was hit on the head. But Julia…" Chris trailed off.
"How was she? Why won't she see me?"
"She not herself, Ted. She was animalistic, they have her restrained. The foul language, her wrists. You wouldn't want to see that," he shuddered.
"I want to kill the person who did that to her."
"From your lips to God's ear, Ted. I have a proposition for you."
Ted looked warily at Chris and leaned in closer. "Go on."
"It would require our working together to get these damn bastards. And you have to do everything I tell you to do." Chris plotted out on a napkin what he wanted to do and how he wanted it executed. Ted again was extremely wary of his plan.
"Chris, it would look like I was selling out. I can't do that."
"Dammit, Ted, get off that high and mighty horse of yours! This is the only way we can trap these thugs. With your calm demeanor and my hot-headed business practice, by election time, we can have these people safe and snug in the nearest prison."
"I don't know, Chris, I can't go back on a promise."
"Christ Ted, it's not the first time a politician lied to his people, and it sure as hell won't be the last time." Chris continued laying the ground plans, with Ted agreeing most of the time. Execution could well be underway within the next two weeks or so.
Chris knew he would find the bastards that did this to Julia and Lila and make them pay.
End of Act IX
Act X Scene I
Boston Harbour Hotel
Lila sat at the bar sucking on the lime from her scotch and soda and thinking about the events of the past couple of weeks. If anyone had told her that she would be in the middle of the biggest story, or even part of the biggest story, she would've laughed in their face and stalked off in her usual cold manner. She pulled out of her purse the story that ran in yesterday's paper and reread it again. She had to give it to Chris, although, it was the story of the decade, he made it seem like nothing at all in his article. She knew exactly what he was doing. Should other newspapers get wind of this important story, Chris could say bye-bye to an exclusive. So he played dumb. The bartender couldn't help but notice that the pretty, okay, he thought, beautiful blonde sitting at his bar, sucking the life out of that lime. If only, he thought to himself with a smirk.
Lila pulled out her cell phone and called her voicemail at work. The publisher called four times demanding her back at the office immediately. She deleted all of his messages. She indicated to the bartender to set her up with another drink and more limes. Slowly savoring the taste of the scotch, she slowly turned around when she heard two men arguing in a corner. One was calling the other one a fool for not chatting up the pretty lady when he went up to order his drinks. She inwardly smiled to herself, it never stopped no matter what city she was in, men would always think she would slink away with them. There really was only one man that she would slink away with, and right now he was playing hero for his former lover. She took a long sip and sucked the life out of the lime.
Chris walked right by the bar, and had not her flowing blond hair caught his notice, he would've gone up to the room. He smiled to himself when he saw her hunched over the bar. Quietly he came up behind her and kissed the back of her neck. She gasped then turned around and kissed him soundly.
"Scotch and limes, quite a combination." He cracked and kissed her lips again. "You've had many, I see."
"Yes. I'm a big girl, I can drink scotch and limes."
"Hey, don't get defensive on me. I said it in jest. What gives?"
She turned back and nursed he drink. "Nothing. I have to go back to D.C."
He nodded to the bartender and ordered a scotch neat. "Why?"
"It seems I have to fan the flames that you have started. I need to save your job. Bradlee is out for blood, your blood." The bartender overheard the conversation and quickly handed Chris his drink.
"Now, what? I made that article as simple and uneventful as possible. Only the players know they have to quirk up their ears."
"Yeah, well Bradlee has quirked up his ears. I can't go to England with you. I'm sorry."
Chris drained his drink and brought his hand up to the scratch he suffered at the hands of Julia. Lila tilted her head just so and gave him a questioning look. "It hurts a little," he answered her unasked question. "When do you need to leave?"
"Tonight. It's easier. That way I'll be in the office tomorrow." She dared not to look at him for he would clearly see that she was lying.
"It's not safe for you. I can't let you go without me, and I can't leave tonight. Call Bradlee and tell him that you'll be back in the office tomorrow afternoon. Please, Lila?"
She finished her drink and sucked on the extra lime that was given to her. "Plane tickets are already purchased. I leave after dinner."
"You ready to head up to the room?" she hesitatingly got of the chair and swayed a bit. Chris steadied her and wrapped an arm around her waist. "You are in no condition to get on an airplane, Lila."
"Just give me some coffee and a brief nap, I'll be fine." Chris turned back to the bartender and ordered a pot of strong black coffee for their room. Lila limped along with him.
Chris settled Lila in the bed and made a couple of phone calls in the living room of their suite. Lila had managed to gather enough strength and clear-headedness enough to put on her sexiest negligee and wait patiently for Chris to arrive back into the bedroom. She dimmed the lights and put on the radio to a soft jazz station that she found completely by chance.
Chris called the hospital one more time to check the status on Julia. He tried calling his source, beeped him numerous times and thought it all very strange that he never once rang him back. Chris went through the stacks of financials that Ted had given him earlier. He looked at them with the same blurry look he had when he finally made the connection. Lila had opened the door a crack and quietly, like rustling wind, called out to him. He heard the soft music waft right by him and smiled. He tossed the papers aside and walked quickly into the bedroom.
Lila teased and tortured him; he begged and pleaded with her to stay in Boston. She reneged. He became possessive and turbulent. As the consummation of their bodies progressed, Chris closed his eyes and unwittingly thought of Julia.
Massachusetts General Hospital
Spring conferred with Ted and the doctors on the radical treatment for her daughter's sake. She didn't and couldn't allow what was happening to Julia continue on any longer. The doctor explained about the mixture of drugs and how to counteract it, they needed to come up with an antidote. But it wasn't an exact science. They couldn't be sure from the blood samples whether or not the drug that were showing in her system was injected or if she had taken an aspirin within the past twenty-four hours. Ted was wary of injecting her with more poisons, Spring wanted a swift ending to her daughter's dementia.
"Ted, she is your fiancée, I want you to be a part of this decision. It will make her whole again. You will have your Julia back."
Ted sighed and looked to the doctor for confirmation; the doctors eyes only showed ambivalence. "I want to see her before you do this. I need to see her."
Spring looked to the doctor and back at Ted, "If it will help you to make the right decision, then yes, but be warned what she says to you is the poison in her brain. Do not take it personally."
Ted nodded to the doctor and went into Julia's room.
"God! Who the hell invited you in here? I told them I did NOT want to see YOU!" Julia thrashed around. "Again, get these bloody restraints off of ME! Where is Christopher?"
"Julia, Chris went back to the hotel with Lila."
She looked enraged, "Who the hell is Lila?" a tear escaped from Ted's eye.
"His lover, Julia. You and I are getting married…"
She cut him off, "Like I would marry you. Chris and I are getting married, dearie. Stop dreaming. Will you tell them to finally undo these damn restraints!"
Ted went over to the bed and stroked her face soothingly, "Don't touch me. Don't you ever touch me!"
Sadly he went back to where he left Spring and the doctor, "Go ahead and do it." Was all he said.
Several Hours Later
Spring had fallen asleep on Ted's shoulder and was only aroused when the doctor put his arm on her. "It appears to be successful. She is awake and calling for you, but not him." Spring patted his face.
"I'll go to her directly. Ted, she's been through quite an ordeal, go home and I'll see you there."
Spring rushed to her daughter's side and was pleased when she saw her unrestrained and arms open wide to admit her mother into her embrace.
"Oh, Julia. Sweet, Julia." Spring sobbed into her daughter's hair.
"Mamma, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Tears came unbidden to her eyes.
"Hush, hush, you didn't do this. Christopher Darcy did this!"
"Mamma! Chris hasn't done anything."
"An outburst, forgive me. Ted has been patiently waiting to see you, and you won't see him. Why?"
"Mamma, I can't."
Spring sighed and pulled back from her daughter, "What are you doing, Julia?"
"I can't marry him, mamma. I love Chris."
"You must forget about him, Julia. He'll bring you nothing but heartache. Trust in me and believe me."
Tears slipped down from Julia's face and she hugged her mother close, "No, mamma, I love him and I made him happy. I can make him happy again."
"And what of that woman that he is with? The woman that he is living with? Destroy those dreams of yours, child. The Darcys bring nothing but heartache."
"I'm sorry, mamma." Julia rubbed her raw wrists and avoided looking at her mother. Spring closed her eyes and wished that Christopher Darcy would go away. Far away.
End of Scene I
Act X Scene II
Boston Harbour Hotel
Chris rolled over and felt the empty spot where Lila had been hours before. A crinkling of paper aroused his suspicion. He turned on the light and waited for eyes to acclimate themselves.
Darling,I had to run off to the airport, please don't be angry. As I was lying beside you, I thought you should do some detective work. Go to the Bio-Engineering firms in Cambridge, dig around as best you can and tell me what you come up with. I want this story to be the biggest damn thing to rock this country. Get as much information as you can, stay as long as you need. I'll calm the home fires with Bradlee.
Loving you,
Lila
Chris groaned loudly when he reread the missive. Damn her, he thought out loud, but the ringing of the phone broke his cursing.
"Darcy, here." He said grumpily.
"My name is MacMillan. Meet me at the corner of India and Franklin Streets in about thirty minutes, Darcy. And come quite alone." The phone went dead.
Chris stared at the phone for a while before registering what had just happened. He didn't know a MacMillan and wasn't sure how he knew how to find him. He gave no physical description. Chris looked around for his shirt and hopped out of the bed. He was still too incensed at Lila for leaving without waking him. Chris threw some cold water on his face, dressed and was out of the room in twenty minutes. It gave him ten minutes to wait around for MacMillan.
The streets were dark and dimly lit. Traffic, due to the hour, was extremely light. Chris saw a man in a leather thin jacket and blue jeans. He walked up to him slowly.
"Are you MacMillan?"
"Aye, I am." Chris looked him over from head to toe, searching for a weapon.
"And what is your business with me?" Chris stood under the street light.
"I'm sorry?" the other man asked.
"You rang me. Why?"
"I have some information for you that you may like to have. But it'll cost ya."
"How much?"
The man looked thoughtfully for a moment. But Chris knew that he'd already had a figure in his mind. He was using the basic stalling technique. "$375,000."
Chris let out a breathy sigh, "What sort of information do you have? And how do I know that it will be worth it?"
The man started to walk away, "I always tell the truth." Chris had to follow after him. He violently turned him around and threw him up against the wall. That man was short and Chris stood nearly a foot taller. Chris made him realize that he would brook absolutely no opposition.
"I can give you information to the whereabouts of the people who hurt those women."
"And?" Chris tightened his grip.
"Your hurting me will get you nowhere, lad. I'd back off right now." Chris pushed him up against the wall again and then let him loose. "The assignment to hurt those close to you has not yet been called off. As a matter of fact, one person has been sent to Derbyshire."
Chris became ashen. He felt the urge to punch, to destroy. "Who is doing this!"
"$375,000, and you will get all the answers you need from me."
"Tomorrow, I'll get you the funds tomorrow." He whispered in defeat. MacMillan ran off after making arrangements to meet with Chris in his hotel. Chris stuffed his hands in his pocket and walked in the direction of the Beacon Hill Townhouse.
The mild night and his inflamed emotions made the walk an easy one. He had tried to call his parents on the cell phone, but received no answer. He was nervous for them. He came upon the house and saw that it was exactly the way he had left it four and half months ago. He took his key and opened it. No one would be there to greet him. Just the darkness.
He walked into the foyer and stopped. He closed his eyes and remembered Julia showing up there when they found out that her mother had been married to his father. Her tears and his wanting to just hold her and make everything bad go away. When she showed up the next day, with short hair and wearing something that was exceptionally criminal! He walked into the living room and remembered the pillows and blankets.
"Making love to Julia," he whispered sadly.
He couldn't bring Lila here. She didn't even know that a here existed. He adored Lila and craved her and enjoyed the sense of freedom that she had. She took rubbish from no one. If anyone could handle Bradlee, it was indeed Lila. Lila had a definite sense of freedom about her that he admired. She could curdle the cream by just staring at it.
Chris headed up the stairs to his bedroom and found everything the way he left it. Except for one article of clothing that belonged to Julia. He wondered how he could have missed that. The silk camisole felt extraordinary soft. He brought it up to his nose and tried to smell her scent, but it was gone. He sat down on the bed in the dark and wondered what and where thing took a different turn. The flashing light on the answering machine caught his attention.
"Hello Christopher, It's Julia. I hope you're still in Boston. I miss you, very much. I've heard through the grapevine that you have accepted the position at the Post in Washington. I'm happy for you. Would it be… I mean, could we possibly have dinner? I'd like to talk to you. I think we need to talk. I love you, Chris. I'm back in Charlestown, you have the number. Please call."
And then -- click.
Biogen Headquarters, Cambridge, MA
Two days later
Christopher had the information he needed, and all he wanted now was to talk to the people in charge of the scientists, and the funding. He went in under a false name and arranged for a meeting with Jay Brock, Director of Bio-Engineering. Jay Brock was a man in his early fifties who had the dashing debonair look to him. He worked his way up from scientist to Bio-Engineer to his current position. He had been with Biogen for nearly twenty-five years.
Waiting as patiently as was possible, Chris read and reread the list of names that was given to him. Jay Brock on the top.
"Mr. Bennet?" Chris ignored the secretary. "Excuse me, Mr. Bennet?"
Chris looked up and smiled bashfully, "Sorry, this article was intriguing." The dimples always got to the ladies.
"Of course, no problem. Mr. Brock has been called away on business and will not be able to see you today. But he would like you to come back tomorrow evening. He'd like to have dinner with you."
Chris scratched his head. Possibly they knew he was in Boston snooping around, "Fine. Tomorrow it is. I'll be here around six."
Chris tried to get a tour of the plant, but they were not being held today. Perhaps tomorrow, the director could take him around personally, the secretary said while giving him a toothy grin. He thought of other ways to get what he wanted, but couldn't risk they secretary losing her job. He smiled to himself and left.
One down, three more to go, he laughed bitterly.
Seaport Hotel, Boston, MA
Julia was released into her mother's custody two days after she was "cured". She couldn't see Ted and was too afraid to stay at her own house. Chris had not come by at all in those two days, and Julia felt herself becoming more and more depressed because of it. Spring did everything she could to try and get Julia to give up Boston for good and settle in Japan or even San Diego. Julia would hear none of it. She wanted to stay right here and continue on with her schooling, that she had fallen pitifully behind in. And she was adamant about Christopher Darcy. She would fight tooth and nail for him. If she failed, then she would give him up gracefully, but she knew that he cared. She just had to unlock the hurt that he had suffered and let him know that hurting and loving are done. And he should be able to do it too.
Spring, on the other hand, had two sets of tickets for her. To San Diego or Japan.
"I cannot mamma. How many times do I need to tell you. My life is here. My life is with Christopher Darcy."
Nearing her wits end, Spring came back with, "But he is living with a woman! He is in love with another woman." Julia pressed her hands to her ears.
"No, mamma! I know he still loves me. I can't deal with you right now. I'm going for a walk."
"By yourself? Are you out of your mind?" Spring screeched.
Julia whirled to face her mother, "No, mamma. I have more sense now. I will not be long, just along the waterfront. I shall be safe."
"Every bone in my body, tells me to take you away from this madness, Julia. And I am in the right mind to do so!"
"I will not go with you. I belong here." Julia grabbed her light jacket and beret and headed out to clear her head with the invigorating sea smell. She walked along the docks and watched the marine life that had been missing from the harbour for many years. They danced and played in the water. She continued walking until she was further and further away from the waterfront. She found herself walking as if in a dream state. Not quite paying attention to where she was going. People would stare at her when they noticed her wrists were bandaged up. One insensitive person told her that next time a gun would've been swifter and she'd be dead by now. She brushed him off and headed in the direction of Beacon Hill.
It was foolish to want to see the house again. Chris, she knew, was staying in a hotel with a woman. Her heavy heart continued to be a burden when she walked up the steep hill. In the four or so months, nothing changed. The old man still swept the sidewalk. The flower shop that she would stop and pick up roses or Freesia from, was there. She shook her head of the fog that was encompassing her.
And then she stopped. The house was right in front of her. She swore to herself that she would never come back here again. She and Chris were no longer together, and it was his house. Movement inside the house shocked her and she quickly opened the front gate and went to the door. She furiously knocked on the door, not sure what to expect. A cold grip of fear embraced her. She turned to get away. She thought that maybe she was walking into the middle of a housebreak or it was the men who hurt her. She quickly ran down the stairs and let out a bloodcurdling scream when her arm was grasped.
"Julia, It's Chris!" He spun her around, but her eyes were still closed.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Please don't hurt me." She said over and over again.
Chris softened his touch and tone, "Julia, open your eyes." Her breathing, once labored, became more steady. She opened her eyes and saw his brown eyes looked imploringly at her. "Come inside." He walked her into the living room and handed her a scotch. She sipped it slowly.
"I – I don't know what to say," she cast her glance downwards. "I'm terribly embarrassed." He poured himself a drink. Her scream practically knocked the bejesus out of him. His heartbeat was racing and the blood pressure reached heights it will never reach again.
"Well you could start by telling what you are doing here?" he didn't look at her.
She took a sip to give her strength, "I was pulled in this direction. I don't know why. I don't remember walking here. It sounds ridiculous."
"Yes, it does."
Julia drained her drink, "May I have another?"
He poured and she sat taming her breathing. His hand brushed hers as he placed her tumbler back into her hand. Julia's face turned red. Chris again, turned around.
"How are you feeling?" He asked quickly making small talk.
"Jumpy," she joked. He smiled.
"What did they say about your wrists? Will they heal?" he sat at the far end of the room where he practically had to shout a question to her.
"In time, all wounds heal, they say."
"Yes." He finally dared to look at her.
Julia sat nervously in the chair and fiddled with her glass. She brought her finger to the rim of the glass and made noises with it. Chris found it disconcerting and distracting. Chris knew exactly what he saw when he looked at Julia and could he deny himself too?
He walked over quickly to her and knelt in front of her. "Julia, why are you here?"
"I don't know." She shook her head, and he moved in closer.
"Again, Julia, why are you here?" he said softly.
"I don't know," she said breathlessly.
"Julia, why are you…" he softly brushed his lips to hers.
"I don't…" she started to answer. Chris lifted her into his arms and carried her up the stairs.
"I know why you are here," he whispered knowingly.
Julia buried her head into his neck, "Yes, Christopher." She wallowed in his strong embrace. Remembering her delicate condition, he was extra gentle and loving.
The sunlight had just peeked through the heavy drapes in Chris' bedroom. Julia lay against him listening to his heartbeat that rumbled gently in his chest. He ran his fingers thrillingly through her hair and brought her mouth to his. Julia responded in kind by becoming more and more aggressive.
The ringing phone made both of them jump.
"Chris darling, it's Lila. The hotel said you were staying at your residence. You never told me…"
End of Act II
Act X Scene III
Washington Post Headquarters
"What the hell do you mean by running off to Boston!" Bradlee boomed. "You are running a team here. And the last time I checked, the leader needed to be here to keep things in control. What the hell do you mean by running off to Boston!" he said again, even louder.
Lila had just walked into the office, she left the office door open purposely. She knew could handle him and wanted everyone in the outer office to know it, too. She squared her shoulders, let him rant and took a seat. She kept a blank face about herself.
"If you think that people here don't know that you are sleeping with Darcy, then you are sadly mistaken, Jenkins! It has been watercooler gossip for weeks now. You are NOT to sleep with your staff! Jesus, Lila you are nearly a decade older than he is. He's a snot-nosed rich boy who doesn't know failure. He doesn't even know the word "no". He's gonna take this newspaper that my grandfather rescued from the brink of closure and destroy it!"
"Tom, is that how you get angry? You bring up my sex life. What does it matter if I'm sleeping with Darcy? Would it matter if I was sleeping with Wolf or perhaps," she thought a moment. "You." Again, she showed no emotion.
"Darcy is a problem, and we need to do something about him. Obviously you are too close to the matter to do anything, So it falls onto me to take care of this problem. AND HE IS A PROBLEM!" he roared again.
"Darcy is the best damned investigative reporter this newspaper has seen since Woodward and Bernstein! He has ambition and drive, something I haven't seen around this place in a long time. He knows that Pulitzer is right within his grasp, and I know it too. I prefer to nurture that instinct in him. That instinct that is sorely missing in that low class of people that you call my staff! That prize will not elude him. Dammit, Tom, you know what that feels like. You know how it feels to know that you are good enough to win and even today, that one award eludes you still."
"He has a hot-headed temper. He uses unconventional means! He is a liability to this paper!"
"He is going to win awards for this newspaper…"
Tom Bradlee cut her off, "I'm going to take him off the article."
"He'll take it to another paper, the Times in New York. Christ, the Wall Street Journal will publish this. Worldwide stock markets will be effected. He is onto something, and I will expose you as a complete hypocrite, Tom. You're still sore over the missed prize when Clinton was impeached."
Bradlee looked at Lila thoughtfully and what he saw was her clear-headed rebuttal and tough stubbornness. She would never back down. She would never give up on a cause she knew to be great. And Lila knew she had him. She could see him backing down a bit, his edge was gone. The glare in his eye was fading. Tom could not lose face now. He would not.
"Darcy is onto nothing," she saw the edge come back.
"You are a bigger fool, then I ever thought. You know that this guy is good, and you are frightened of him. Why, Tom? Because you know that he will win the award that you didn't, but your grandfather did? Are you not man enough to know that your time is over for winning awards like Christopher Darcy. Well!" She stood up and stared him dead on. "That boy has drive and fire and honesty here," she hit her chest. "You had it once, Tom. I remember, but unfortunately your fire and honesty and drive were located a bit lower." She glanced down at the spot. He became pale.
"We would've been a great team, Lila." She laughed at him. Many years before, Tom had the audacity to try and become one of Lila's numerous lovers, but he never cut quite the figure she was looking for. She was too strong for his weak person. His wife ran ramshod over him most days.
"No. No, we wouldn't have Tom. You want to know why?" he nodded his head, she started to walk out of the office and turned around, "Because I'm more man than you ever were." Lila walked out of the office and knew that she had won. The office chit chatter had died off when they heard the two in Bradlee's office. When Lila was in the outer office, chatter went back to normal, but she had scored a big one in her favor. No one would ever dare cross swords with her for she would slice them into bite-sized morsels.
Christopher Darcy's Townhouse
Chris got ready for his dinner with Jay Brock. With his thoughts in a bigger muddle regarding the women in his life, he couldn't focus on what Brock would want with Christopher Bennet. Chris knew he would prod, maybe get some information out of him, possibly get a tour of the facility. He needed hard facts and wasn't sure how to go about getting them. Lila was adamant about his poking around the sites. He was eternally grateful to her for saving his neck when it came to Bradlee. She demurred and told him that it was like serving candy to a baby. Chris knew better than to underestimate her.
He made it to the offices of Jay Brock at exactly six and only had to wait a couple of minutes before several gentleman ushered him into the office. Jay Brock sat behind a very formidable cherry wood hand-crafted desk. But the man looked much too small for such a gargantuan-sized desk.
"Mr. Darcy, please have a seat." Brock said authoritatively.
"If you knew who I was yesterday, why didn't you see me then?"
Brock folded his hands as if in prayer and smiled, "Because I knew I needed to be ready for you. You never should've used the name Bennet. I knew your mother and your father."
"How quaint." The other thugs in the room were definitely there for intimidation purposes. But Chris wouldn't flinch. "Why are you blackmailing my cousin and the other men in Congress?"
Brock laughed, "Nothing like trying to get a hole in one on your first try, Darcy. Won't work with me, unfortunately."
Chris smiled, "Of course, I had to try."
Brock stood up suddenly and dismissed hurly and burly. Chris Darcy proved to be no threat tonight. "I thought we could have dinner at Maison Robert?"
"I guess it's a date."
Once settled at the restaurant, Darcy felt the winds of change and knew that he would be getting no information from Brock. But was dead certain that Brock was in on it. He would not have been the person running the show, but he was a very good drone and buzzed back to the queen bee quite nicely. A big fat nest egg was what kept him going back.
By the end of the evening, Chris was warned off investigating any further. A person was deployed to Derbyshire and would be told to stay there until the orders were called off. Chris just smiled. He knew his mother and father were safe in Biminy enjoying their holiday.
No shakes of hands, no wishes of best of health greeted these two when they finally parted. Just the threat that serious damage would come about should this story ever make it to print.
Julia sat on the front stoop waiting for Chris. He smiled when he saw her.
"What brings you out here? You should be resting." He sat down beside her.
"Chris, I – I thought maybe we could talk about last night, this morning and Lila." She looked tremulously at him. He took her hand into his and traced his finger in her palm.
"I see." He said plaintively. He led her up and walked her into the house. Julia went right into the kitchen and put the kettle on for tea. Chris laughed as she just commanded herself in the house. He liked their tea breaks they had. Sitting at the breakfast nook, looking all googledy eye at each other.
"Earl Grey, Chris?" he nodded.
Chris removed his tie and jacket and loosened the top button on his shirt. Julia found herself staring at him as he tried to relieve the tension in his neck and shoulders. His eyes were shut and didn't see the lust coming from Julia. The whistling kettle brought both of them back to their senses. Julia blushed as if she was caught at voyeurism. She handed Chris his cup and sat across from him.
"I don't regret last night, Julia. I could never regret…" he trailed off suddenly as a flash of Lila popped into his head.
"Chris, I love you," she said it. Plain and simple.
"But Ted, and your engagement. You left me." He whispered.
"You were on a crash collision for prison or death. I couldn't watch you beat yourself up. I loved you so much and it hurt to see you take my love and throw it away. You have always been in my thoughts. You told me that you would come for me. You never did, Chris. I waited four months."
Chris looked at her and saw the tears, he hated watching her cry. He caused so much pain and knew that he would be causing more pain. "Your mother told me that you just recently accepted Ted's proposal. Why did you accept him?"
"Because I thought you hated me. I thought you wanted nothing to do with me. And Lila said…"
Chris whipped around, "What did Lila say?"
Julia took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, "Just that she was taking care of you now. That when in her arms, you didn't think of me anymore."
He closed his eyes and wiped his face. Lila certainly knows how to hit the jugular, he thought. He smiled bitterly.
"I did think of you." He said softly. "She doesn't own my thoughts and desires."
Julia couldn't see through the haze of tears. She reached for a paper towel and wiped her eyes. "Do you desire me, Chris?"
He nodded his head and smiled to her. She managed a small smile back. Julia started to make more tea, when Chris pulled her into his arms. "I desire you right now, Julia. Stay with me tonight, please?"
"My mother…"
"I don't care about her, Julia. Please?"
She looked into his eyes and knew that she wanted him too. She could not walk out of this house without his being hers, and she was working her way towards that.
Julia went to head upstairs when she saw Chris sitting in the living room stoking a fire. He had placed pillows and blankets down. She walked into the room and smiled seductively to him. She took off one shoe and threw it behind her. She took off the other and did the same. She gently laid herself on the pillow and closed her eyes. Chris leaned over her and started removing her clothing. She faintly heard the music in the background.
"You remembered," she murmured.
"How could I not remember Bolero."
With the exact same slowness, he slowly tortured her while removing her clothing. One by one, he stripped her of everything. Chris found solace in Julia. He found beauty in her, and didn't want it to end.
"Chris, please, please, tell me. Say it."
He held out as long as he could. He fought the emotion, he didn't know. His feelings for her confused his train of thought. He kissed Julia, and said ever-so-softly, "Oh Julia, I do love you."
She pulled him very close to her, "I will fight for you, Chris. Always."
End of Scene III
Act X Scene IV
Christopher Darcy's Townhouse
For three consecutive nights, Julia spent them blissfully in Chris' arms. On the fourth morning he told her he was due back in Washington. Julia pretended to keep up appearances, and secretly hoped that he would ask her to go with him. He didn't ask. Chris, however, found himself completely torn. He loved Julia, always had. He loved Lila, she excited him and tantalized him. He watched Julia as she attempted to keep her wits about her. He found it endearing and heartbreaking, and leaving her side was proving to be difficult.
Chris snuggled closer to Julia early in the morning and nuzzled her neck. Her contented sigh drove him wild with passion and she managed to appease him in every way possible. Julia felt closer to him than ever. She knew they had crossed a certain threshold of their love, and knew that they could not go back. She was stronger and happier and more in love. Chris rose from the bed slowly and looked over Julia as she lay there still enticing him.
"I can't Julia. I have to leave." She had no qualms standing in front of him au naturel. She quirked her eyebrows as she made a go at him.
"I think you'd enjoy staying here one more night." He shook his head.
"Not one more night," he laughed. "You would never let me leave. I have to go, love. I do have a job to go to." He gently kissed her cheek.
"Perhaps a trip to D.C. is what the doctor ordered. Chris?"
Chris had closed his eyes and knew that it was coming, "Not yet, Julia. I have a difficult situation ahead of me, please don't force me to do anything rash."
"You do love me?" she stood in front of him a jutted her chin out, she would not give in to tears. He embraced her tightly.
"More than you know."
"But Lila…"
Chris sighed, "Lila is very special. Julia, I love her also. I can't explain it right now, please don't ask me to."
Julia walked to the closet and took out a robe quickly put it on. She would not allow defeat to weigh her down. She would wait and when the pieces fell into place, she would then make her move. A gamble? Yes indeed.
Washington Post Headquarters
Chris Darcy walked into Lila's office at exactly two in the afternoon. She indicated for him to have a seat and continued on with her phone conversation. For the brief moment that Lila saw Darcy, she noticed his appearance as relaxed, contented and satisfied. The caller on the other line went on and on until Lila found a great opportunity to announce that a client had walked into her office and she must go. Chris smiled when he heard her.
"So Darcy? What news do you have for me."
"Brock was not talking. However, I do know that he is not the leader. And I'm stuck to figure out who is calling the shots. A man has been sent to Derbyshire to watch my parents." Lila shot him a concerned look. "They are safe and out of the country. I want to find that -- that person and pummel them."
"Shut the door, Chris." Chris did as told.
"Bradlee wants you off the article." Chris started to protest when she held a hand up to calm him. "He never should've fought me, Chris."
"Did you brutalize him, Lila? Did you go straight for the jugular like you do with many unsuspecting people?"
"I use whatever means necessary to get what I want. Yes. What is this about?" Lila looked quizzically at him and watched as he stirred in his seat.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing, I missed you."
Lila rocked in her chair and nodded her head, "Well, you couldn't have missed me that much, you never returned my phone calls."
"I was in a sticky situation, with Brock and his band of thugs."
She leaned on her elbows that were on the desk, "Right, Brock and band of thugs. Darcy get over here and kiss me."
When the boss tells you to jump, Chris was always told to ask how far and how high. Quickly walking to her, he pulled her up from her seat, took her seat and sat her on his lap. She pawed at him until a knock at the door forced her off his lap. Fixing her skirt and shirt, she opened the door.
"Bradlee," She said in a nondescript voice. Chris had resumed his seat opposite Lila's desk and was looking over some documents.
"I'm glad the two of you are in here, we need to talk." Shutting the door behind him, Tom headed to a seat beside Chris. Lila never wavered as she glared at him.
"Listen, Tom, if this has anything to do with yesterday, it's a lost cause. You know damn well that you don't have a pot to hold water in…"
Bradlee glared at Lila, "Will you shut up! Your boytoy here has been creating waves in Boston. I just got off the phone with special agent Knapp. It seems Darcy that you have been followed. You connected with MacMillan, he happens to be an informant for the FBI and gave them all sorts of information."
Darcy looked dumbstruck at Bradlee, "What else? How long was I followed for?" Bradlee to his dire amusement knew all about the woman he spent three nights with. He held his trump card.
"No, this is good, actually." Lila said excitedly.
"What?" Chris asked.
"We have the FBI behind us, we are golden. Chris, we'll bring your cousin here to get him involved. Once the FBI knows of the sting, then we have our people and our story. I couldn't have asked for a better resolution. Don't you see, this will enhance our story and protect everyone involved!"
"There is one matter that you two are not addressing here."
"Tom, if you threaten one more time…" Lila hissed.
"Not quite, Lila. The other Congressmen, they haven't a clue as to what is going on. Perhaps they should remain in the dark for now. I will not have blood on this newspaper. Knapp will be in to see you tonight at seven. Darcy, I demand your full cooperation."
Chris looked at him and made not one gesture, Bradlee walked out of the office happy. Lila needed to be knocked down a peg, and he now had what was needed to do it. Thank you, rich boy, Bradlee laughed.
Lila shut her door again and rushed into his arms again, "Let's go home until seven." She purred. "Let me show you how much I've missed you."
"Not a good idea. Besides I have mail and e-mail I need to catch up on. After meeting with Knapp, we'll go out to dinner. Somewhere utterly romantic and far away from here."
Her eyes flashed brightly. "You're on." She pushed him back onto the table and refused to let him up for several long, pleasurable minutes.
End of Scene IV
Act X Scene V
Seaport Hotel, Boston, MA
Julia walked around happy, miserable and absolutely, completely and wonderfully satisfied, much to the chagrin of Spring who thought it time that she leave and allow her daughter to make a mess of her own life. Whenever the Darcys were concerned, they created nothing but problems. However, Spring thought of a plan that just may work.
"Mamma, you have not heard one word I said." Julia admonished.
"I was thinking about flying back to San Diego tonight."
Julia's face darkened, "Perhaps that is a very good idea. I just told you that I will go back to Charlestown."
Spring looked at her daughter and wondered when she became so stubborn. There was never any animosity between mother and daughter. But now that a man was involved, it was threatening to destroy their once extremely close relationship. Spring called the airline and booked herself on a late afternoon flight out of Boston and San Diego was not exactly her destination.
Once she finished packing, Julia helped her carry her bags to a waiting taxi.
"Do take better care of yourself, Julia. Go and talk to Ted. You have hurt him very much." Julia placed a small kiss on her mother's cheek.
"Mamma, it is over between Ted and me. I never should have used him. But I will marry Christopher. I will become Julia Darcy."
"Be careful, sweetheart." As Spring waved from the taxi, she silently prayed that all her answers would be answered in Biminy.
L'Auberge Chez Francois, Great Falls, VA
Chris admired Lila in the all-too-revealing dress that she had selected for dinner. Chris thought for an instant that special agent Knapp would combust of lust when he saw her. He thought it odd that a FBI agent would be ogling his girlfriend and he didn't like it one bit. But Lila was Lila and enjoyed the attention certain body parts were getting.
Knapp had been quite blunt about the game that Chris was playing and wanted him to play by his rules, or else someone would be seriously injured. The FBI had been looking into these Bio-Engineering firms that were playing by dirty rules and now that they had a breakthrough, Chris Darcy would prove to be quite informative to the sting. Ted was conferenced in and participated in the schematics of what should be done, how it was to be executed and who would be stung. Ted would be in the clear once everything was said and done. Knapp, who was a good three inches taller than Chris and looked more like a blonde Adonis than G-man, gave one last hungry look at Lila and received a threatening glare from Chris before leaving.
The server brought over a bottle of the most expensive red wine and had Chris test it before serving. Okaying the brand of wine, the server poured. Chris felt Lila's hand slowly creep up his thigh as the waiter smiled down on the two.
"So tell me, what did you do to whittle your time away in Boston." She looked over the wine glass.
"Just the same old stuff. I reopened the Townhouse."
Lila's eye's flashed when he mentioned that, "Yes, the townhouse. Why did we stay in hotel?"
Chris felt like a caged tiger with no way out, "I couldn't tell you about it, Lila. Just accept that."
"No. I will not just accept it. How dare you even say that to me."
"I don't want to fight, not tonight."
"Then you will tell me why you never told me about the damn townhouse."
"Do you want to know why I never told you, because Julia and I lived there! Because that is where I made love to her night after night for months. Because I didn't think you would want to be there, when her ghost filled the house!"
Lila was stunned at his confessional outburst, but would not back down, "Yet Chris, you did go back there. Did her ghost haunt you the entire time you stayed there?"
Chris took a long sip of his wine and tried to tear his gaze away from Lila, but she held his gaze firmly. She was taunting him, and he knew that she would topple him. He tried to steer away from this path, but she would not desist. She would find out everything. He knew if she tried hard enough she would own him.
"Did her ghost haunt you every time you slept in the same bed that she occupied with you Chris?" Lila ploughed on.
"No."
She laughed and extremely bitter laugh, "You never thought of her once. I don't believe you." Chris moved closer to her and grabbed her shoulder's tightly.
"Perhaps you should just shut up now and kiss me." He said harshly. Lila saw the glint in his eye that warned her to stop crossing him now. She had no choice but to give up and concede. He moved his hand down her back and pulled her closer to him. "I have to have you right now, Lila."
She nodded her head, "But dinner," she whispered.
"Later."
He pulled Lila up quickly and roughly, threw down several large bills, and the two ran out of the restaurant.
Ted Bingley's Campaign Headquarters
Ted sat studying the information that Chris had faxed over to him. He saw Julia standing in front of him as if she were truly a ghost. He looked up at her warily and went back to his documents.
"I don't think we have much to say to each other," Ted said sadly.
"Oh, I think I owe you an apology." He looked up at her again, confused.
"No, I deluded myself into thinking I could have you. I fell in love with you the first time I met you, how was I to know that you harbored feelings for my cousin." She pulled up a chair and sat beside him.
"You took good care of me, I owe you my life, literally."
He smiled, "Yeah, I guess you do." He said lightly.
"Ted, you are a good person and I admire you. You will be a wonderful politician. Your honesty and integrity will get you far in your field of choice. Some woman who you meet and eventually marry will be one special person. Not only because she is married to you, but will undoubtedly become first lady of the United States. With ambition like yours, you'll go very far."
"Let me just get elected to the House." He cracked a smile. "On my own merits. Have you seen Chris during his stay."
She looked away, and he understood what it meant, "What happens to Lila?"
Julia looked at him with fresh tears in her eyes. "He went back to her," she said simply.
Ted put his head into his hands, "Why do you bother with him? What is the attraction?"
Julia sighed heavily, "I love him and he loves me. Lila will eventually go away."
"Oh Julia, don't delude yourself like I did with you. Be careful. The heart is the most sensitive organ in the human body, it gets broken quite often in this family."
She wrapped her arms around him, "I'm so sorry, Ted. I can't offer you anything else." He wiped the tears from her cheeks.
"You know damn well that I hope Chris rots in hell. But if you are to be with him, I won't wish that anymore." She laughed at the joke and then cried a little harder. "You don't need to cry, Julia. All will eventually work out. Just as you said."
Julia leaned against him and tried hard for anything to happen, but nothing did and would. "You are very handsome Mr. Bingley, you cut a good figure. You look great in bed clothes." Here she giggled, "Find a woman who will give you what you want."
"Good advice, Mrs. Wolcott."
"No, I think you can call me Ms. McManus."
"Ah, the maiden name. By the way, have the Darcys ever figured out who you were?"
End of Scene V
Act X Scene VI
Lila Jenkins' Townhouse
The music was seductive. The fire was roaring. The chilled white wine -- perfection. Lila disrobed and rubbed body lotion on her well-toned leg. Chris sat in front of her watching and waiting. She started on the other leg, when he took the lotion from her hand and poured some into his palm. He rubbed it into her smooth leg, slowly inching his way higher and higher. She gasped when he tickled her softly. The softened look to her eyes let him know that she was no longer upset with him. As he continued to rub the lotion, she positioned herself so he was at a better angle. She sat on the edge of the chaise, and laid back as he continued his seductions.
"What are you doing to me, woman?" Chris asked huskily. Lila slid off the chaise going down to the floor, taking him with her.
"Not… a… thing…" She smiled as she knew she was getting closer to possessing him. He wanted her and told her over and over again, but she held out. She wanted him begging for mercy, and he was on his way to do that. She toyed with him, teased him and tempted him with forbidden fruit. He groaned his frustrations. She laughed at him as he became worked up, she saw the anger flash in eyes. She had him exactly where she wanted him.
And then they made love.
Washington Post Headquarters
Tom Bradlee's Office, four days later
"Darlene, get Darcy into my office immediately and warn him NOT to tell Jenkins." He bellowed at his harried assistant.
"Yes, sir." She left his office and went to her task.
Christopher Darcy walked into Bradlee's office a little confused with this impromptu meeting in which Lila was to be kept in the dark. Sitting down at the massive oak conference table, Chris watched as Tom paced back and forth trying to look intimidating. To Chris he looked nervous.
"You are probably wondering why I called you in here under this cloak of secrecy?"
Chris smirked, "It had crossed my mind."
Tom took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes raw. He methodically put them back on and sighed loudly. Chris was getting a bit more than angry.
"I'm warning you now, you may think you have Lila in your corner, and she is definitely one person that you would want in your corner from my dealings with her, but as soon as I give her some information I have on you, she'll drop you like a hot potato."
"Are you threatening me?" Chris moved in closer and narrowed his eyes to mere slits.
"You screw up and ruin the reputation of this newspaper, you can kiss your job and Lila good-bye. I run a clean business, and I don't care for your tactics! Lila will know of the woman in Boston. It would be my pleasure to tell her."
Chris shook his head in amazement, "Lila was right, you are an extremely weak man. Only the weak would use methods like this. I take it that this meeting is finished?"
"Yes. No, one other thing, what is going on with the FBI?"
"We play by their rules, maybe." Chris said as he exited the office. Smiling as he did so. He walked by Lila's office and noticed that she wasn't looking very well. She had become quite pale. He mouthed to her if he could come in. She nodded her assent and continued chewing on a pencil while reading some documents.
"What's going on? I heard you were called into Tom's office?" she never looked up.
"You're not looking to good, perhaps you've worked too much since your accident."
She shook her head, "I'm fine, just a tad tired." She smiled at him. "So what did Tom want?"
"He was curious about our meeting with Knapp. That's all." He watched as all the color drained from her face, he could see her eyes become out of focus. She closed them to regroup.
"Have you eaten anything today? Did you skip lunch?" Her eyes started to water. She indicated to him to leave and shut the door. He left but not before asking her if he could get her anything.
As soon as Chris left her office, she became increasingly hot and the sweat started pouring off of her forehead. Slowly getting up she tried to quickly walk to the ladies room before the wave of nausea took over her in the corridor.
Biminy
Spring located her ex-husband lounging on the chaise as his wife waded in the surf. He was laughing as the waves would catch her by surprise. A sudden blockage of the sun made him turn in Spring's direction.
"Hello, William." She held her hand out to him. He bit his lip and shook her hand. Elizabeth looked curiously at her husband and made it to his side rather hastily.
"What brings you to paradise?" William asked. Spring looked him and over and was amazed that he hadn't changed one bit. Oh yes, he was a little more gray in the temples, but the dark curls and his body remained the same.
"You," Elizabeth flashed her a look.
Spring just merely smiled, "And your wife. We have matters to discuss regarding our children." William and Elizabeth looked at Spring confused. "Shall we have a drink?" they nodded yes. Elizabeth wrapped a sarong around her waist, then took her husband's arm. Spring led them to an outside bar where tables were set up. She picked one farthest from the crowd.
"I'm sorry for being so cryptic. We must discuss your son and my daughter."
Elizabeth sipped her drink pensively, "What about my son and your daughter?"
"My daughter and your son fell in love. They are no longer together, but it appears that he still has feelings for her, yet he lives with another woman. I only want to protect my daughter's interests. Your son will destroy any happiness she could have. She should be engaged now and is not, because of your son."
"Wait a minute, who are you talking about?" William asked, but Elizabeth nudged him and mouthed, "Julia." "Oh good God!" William exclaimed.
Elizabeth spoke up, "You mean that Julia and Ted are no longer engaged?" Spring nodded her head.
"Julia is your daughter? Chris knew that she was your daughter?" Will asked of Spring.
"Yes, I met him when he came back from England. I thought he was you. The resemblance in remarkable. He professed his love to my daughter and to me after I introduced myself to him. He's always known."
"But he never told me, us!"
"Julia was frightened that you would hate her because of who she was. Coming to your home last year was very difficult for her, but Chris eased her mind. I understand you two were quite taken with her."
"Julia is a lovely girl." Elizabeth offered. "They still love each other?"
"I know that Julia is in love with him. I can't make out his emotions. Julia was attacked in Boston and Chris came to see her. They spent time together, but he went back to the journalist woman he is with. I can't have him using my daughter. I won't have him hurting her anymore than he has."
William finally found his voice, "She hurt him! She left him! I tried everything in my power to keep them two together. He spoke to me of marriage, and if he could …"
Spring closed her eyes, "Your son needed to grieve over the loss of his sister. Julia gave him space to get over such a terrible loss to him. He promised he would come back for her, he did not. He started his affair with his boss."
"I don't understand why you need to get involved."
Spring sighed, "Julia and I have always had an extremely close relationship, she is my life, and I can't watch her wait for someone who doesn't love her completely."
"And you want us to talk to our son?" Elizabeth said quietly. "We want him to be happy to. This past year has been extremely difficult."
"I am sorry for your loss. My Julia and Shawn are terribly important to me. I would destroy anyone who hurt my children willingly."
"Chris included?" William asked stunned. Spring nodded.
"I liked young Mr. Darcy, he is a bit footloose and fancy free, and he has wonderful head on his shoulders, but he has to make certain commitments. He seems afraid to."
"We will talk to Christopher, but I seriously doubt it would do any good. He is his own person." William told her.
End of Act VI