MissJr
Lounging on the Deck
Brooke IS the Bold & the Beautiful!
Posts: 14,065
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Post by MissJr on Jun 25, 2009 14:18:01 GMT -5
Stella's lawyer, Arnold, was in the process of eating a forkful of salad when Stella "popped the question." He was so startled that he immediately placed his fork on his plate—food uneaten—and stared at her before asking, "Are you kidding me?" Stella impatiently rolled her eyes and huffed. "I didn't stutter, Arnie! I want to know if I have a valid palimony claim just in case Trent doesn't do right by me." Arnold loudly exhaled and leaned back in his chair. "You know, Stella, when you called me claiming to have some kind of emergency, my curiosity was piqued. In spite of knowing better, I actually rearranged my schedule so that we could have lunch figuring you had some earth-shattering crisis." Arnold commented, barely hiding his annoyance. "It is a crisis!" Stella dramatically claimed. "Trent is about to dump me and—" "Oh ho! So that's what this is all about!" Arnold chuckled. He then shook his head in disgust. "You know, Stella, I have a motion in limine to prepare for tomorrow and you actually want me to drop everything because your love life is falling apart!" Stella was in no mood for lectures. "Oh, stop it, Arnie! Will you please just answer my question?!" She stridently demanded, causing other diners to look her way. However, Stella was beyond caring if she was making a spectacle of herself at this point. Her desperation was palpable, and her lawyer picked up on it immediately. "Stella, listen to me," Arnold said slowly in a low voice. He reached across the table and grasped her hand. "You've already indicated that Trent has yet to propose. After two years, it's highly unlikely that he will. Did Trent make you any promises? At all?" Stella had the good grace to look away in embarrassment. "No—not exactly," she grudgingly conceded. "That's why I'm asking—" "Has he asked you to live with him at least?" Arnold interrupted Stella. "No," she replied in a low voice. Arnold exhaled deeply and shook his head. What was it with the women in this town? He found himself wondering. It was like no matter how beautiful, accomplished and smart they were, they acted as if having a man—a wealthy one—was a matter of life and death! "Stella, do you have any expectation that the nature of this relationship will change? At all?" Arnold asked. "At one time I did, but now, I just don't know. We had this horrific fight and when we spoke today, there was something in his voice that made it clear that he wants out.” "Then you should let him go, Stella. This man will never give you what you say you want. I mean, what part of this is so hard for you to understand?" "Arnie, I can't let him go!" Stella asserted. "Why the hell not?" Arnold shot back. "Because I just can't! I've invested too much time, energy and effort into this relationship to just let it go. He's 'the one,' Arnie." Stella claimed. "Wow! And, you say that with such certainty," Arnold chuckled. "Stop laughing!" Stella snapped as she jerked her hand out of Arnold's. "It's not funny!" "Actually, my dear, it is rather funny," Arnold chortled. "You say that Trent is 'the one' and you talk about all the time, energy and effort you put into this relationship. And, yet not once did I hear you say that you loved him." Caught unawares, Stella gasped. "I—well—I—" A discombobulated Stella began to stutter. "Do you love him, Stella?" Arnold asked. "Arnie, what kind of question is that?" "A simple one that only requires a yes or no response. Again—do you love this man, Stella? At all?" A persistent Arnold demanded. A shamefaced Stella looked away before replying, "I don't know, Arnie. I haven't really allowed myself to try." "What?!" A shocked Arnold gasped as he ran his hands through his hair. "What the hell kind of answer is that?" "I can't afford to allow myself to really love Trent or any man, Arnie. You know that. I married for love the last time and look what I ended up with." Stella replied. "Stella, you were very young and idealistic when you married what's-his-name. Trent is hardly a lazy, shiftless recreational drug user and broke artist, who's determined to live off of you," Arnold reminded Stella in exasperation. "I can't allow myself to be that vulnerable again. That's why I'm asking, if in the alternative, Trent does want to call it quits, what can I get out of it?" Stella quietly asked. Arnold stared briefly at Stella before responding. "WOW!" He whistled. "I'll say this much, your mother trained you well—you and your sisters. Evidently, instead of training you to be good wives, you all are nothing more than a bunch of highly paid courtesans," Arnold said with contempt. "Hey! Hey! That is NOT fair!" Stella yelled. "But, it's the truth though, now isn't it?" Arnold asked, unaffected by Stella's anger. "So, please spare me your faux outrage. Now, to answer your question, let me give you a little history lesson. You remember the actor, Jack Klugman? Well, his live-in, unmarried 'wife' sued him years ago. She claimed she lived with him for 20 years and was entitled to supposal support and a division of the property accumulated over the span of their relationship. She claimed it was community property. However, the case law and phrase 'palimony' was established in a landmark case involving another actor, Lee Marvin, in the early 1960's. In that case, the California Supreme Court held that there is no community property or duty to support between unmarried persons. A valid marriage between the parties must exist. Now, let's talk about you and Trent for a second. To prevail on the merits, you must prove there was an agreement to support and that the earnings and property accumulated by the two of you over the life of the relationship was intended to be owned equally by you both. Now, in the Marvin case, one juror found that there was an implied agreement by virtue of the parties’ relationship. You must prove something more than just living together to establish an agreement. Otherwise, the law would be meaningless. You can't just simply say that you and Trent lived together and therefore you have an agreement. You need to say, "Trent, sweetie, just sign here!" "So you're saying I have no case then?" A crestfallen Stella asked. Arnold grabbed one of the crusty loaves from the bread basket. He broke the bread and dipped a chunk of it into a bowl of olive oil. He took a bite and slowly savored it. Satisfied, he ate the rest of it and proceeded to break off another piece and repeated the same ritual. He then peered at Stella and wondered if she really expected him to answer such a ludicrous question. Her look of expectancy gave him the answer he needed and he silently shuddered that any woman could be that desperate—or dumb. "No, Stella," Arnold replied. "You don't have a case. Now rather than wasting anymore time on this pointless exercise, I would suggest you think of a creative way to extricate yourself from this relationship—one that will at least leave you with a shred of dignity." _______________
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Post by GIOVANNA on Jun 25, 2009 20:58:47 GMT -5
He was so startled that he immediately placed his fork on his plate—food uneaten—and stared at her before asking, " Are you kidding me?"Stella impatiently rolled her eyes and huffed. "I didn't stutter, Arnie! I want to know if I have a valid palimony claim just in case Trent doesn't do right by me." Arnold loudly exhaled and leaned back in his chair. "You know, Stella, when you called me claiming to have some kind of emergency, my curiosity was piqued. In spite of knowing better, I actually rearranged my schedule so that we could have lunch figuring you had some earth-shattering crisis." Arnold commented, barely hiding his annoyance. "It is a crisis!" Stella dramatically claimed. "Trent is about to dump me and—"Arnold exhaled deeply and shook his head. What was it with the women in this town? He found himself wondering. It was like no matter how beautiful, accomplished and smart they were, they acted as if having a man—a wealthy one—was a matter of life and death! [/b] "Stella, do you have any expectation that the nature of this relationship will change? At all?" Arnold asked. "Then you should let him go, Stella. This man will never give you what you say you want. I mean, what part of this is so hard for you to understand?""Arnie, I can't let him go!" Stella asserted."Actually, my dear, it is rather funny," Arnold chortled. "You say that Trent is 'the one' and you talk about all the time, energy and effort you put into this relationship. And, yet not once did I hear you say that you loved him."Caught unawares, Stella gasped. "I—well—I—" A discombobulated Stella began to stutter. "Do you love him, Stella?" Arnold asked. "Arnie, what kind of question is that?" "A simple one that only requires a yes or no response. Again—do you love this man, Stella? At all?" A persistent Arnold demanded. A shamefaced Stella looked away before replying, "I don't know, Arnie. I haven't really allowed myself to try.". "I can't allow myself to be that vulnerable again. That's why I'm asking, if in the alternative, Trent does want to call it quits, what can I get out of it?" Stella quietly asked.Arnold stared briefly at Stella before responding. "WOW!" He whistled. "I'll say this much, your mother trained you well—you and your sisters. Evidently, instead of training you to be good wives, you all are nothing more than a bunch of highly paid courtesans," Arnold said with contempt."So you're saying I have no case then?" A crestfallen Stella asked. Arnold grabbed one of the crusty loaves from the bread basket. He broke the bread and dipped a chunk of it into a bowl of olive oil. He took a bite and slowly savored it. Satisfied, he ate the rest of it and proceeded to break off another piece and repeated the same ritual. He then peered at Stella and wondered if she really expected him to answer such a ludicrous question. Her look of expectancy gave him the answer he needed and he silently shuddered that any woman could be that desperate—or dumb."No, Stella," Arnold replied. "You don't have a case. Now rather than wasting anymore time on this pointless exercise, I would suggest you think of a creative way to extricate yourself from this relationship—one that will at least leave you with a shred of dignity." _______________ [/quote] Another excellent installment!
Poor dumb Stella-NOT! I know I sound mean, but just what did she expect? I am sure she cares for Trent in her own way, or at least thinks she does. When her lawyer asked her if she loved Trent and she actually had to think about it tells me all I need to know. It's not love, it's wounded pride that's driving her.
Like her lawyer, I had to shake my head at her acting like Trent dumping her was the end of the world. The fact that she expects money from her boyfriend when he dumps her is laughable, although I am sure there are people like that. They act like they are doing this person a favor by sleeping with them and when the other party decides to end things, they act as if they are entitled to some form of compensation. And this annoying trait is a trait men share with women.
Forget about a palimony claim, why doesn't she claim she is pregnant?
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Post by sugarpie on Jun 26, 2009 6:46:43 GMT -5
Poor dumb Stella-NOT! I know I sound mean, but just what did she expect? I am sure she cares for Trent in her own way, or at least thinks she does. When her lawyer asked her if she loved Trent and she actually had to think about it tells me all I need to know. It's not love, it's wounded pride that's driving her.
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Bingo Gio on your assessment...........Another great installment Miss JR..... ;D.
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MissJr
Lounging on the Deck
Brooke IS the Bold & the Beautiful!
Posts: 14,065
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Post by MissJr on Jun 26, 2009 23:06:30 GMT -5
Ladies, there are plenty of women like Stella out there--gold-diggers, courtesans, "chicken heads" and all the other unflattering terms that come to mind. It's definitely about her pride at this point and she's spun a web and told so many lies that she's desperate to save face. She scorns her lawyer's advice because it's not what she wants to hear. And, Gio--shhhhh! Don't give Stella any ideas!
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MissJr
Lounging on the Deck
Brooke IS the Bold & the Beautiful!
Posts: 14,065
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Post by MissJr on Jun 26, 2009 23:20:58 GMT -5
Storm pleasantly greeted Megan but not before doing a quick double-take. What a knockout! He thought. “Good morning,” Megan said with a smile, trying to look cool. Oh my God! I think he’s checking me out! “I’m here to see Brooke,” Storm said barely able to take his eyes off of Megan. “I’m—” “—her brother, Storm,” Megan interjected much to Storm’s surprise. “I, um, met you at Brooke’s house a few years ago.” Storm raised an eyebrow. “I see you that have a good memory for faces,” he said. “That’s because I pay attention!” Megan saucily replied. “I, um—I’ll buzz Brooke and let her know you’re here.” “No need,” Storm said. “She’s expecting me.” “Not a problem,” Megan said with a pleasant smile. “It was nice seeing you again, Ms. Connelly,” Storm said with a grin, making a note to get “the digits” before he and Brooke left. “And, you too, Mr. Logan,” Megan said as she watched Storm walk away. Lord, please let him turn around! Megan silently prayed. She quickly glanced over her shoulder and was gratified when she noticed that her prayer had been answered. … With his hand still on the small of Phyllis’ back, Ridge leaned forward and whispered something in her ear, sending her into a fit of giggles. Sensing that they were no longer alone, Ridge looked away from Phyllis and was startled to see Storm standing directly in front of them. Ridge’s eyes widened and he stiffened slightly. Oh sh*t! Too late, he realized he had been busted and wondered how long it would before Storm rushed to Taylor and put a bug in her ear while offering her his shoulder to cry on. However, he stubbornly refused to remove his hand from Phyllis’ back. With his eyes, Ridge all but dared Storm to say something about it. Not bothering to hide his disgust, Storm frowned and was more than happy to oblige. “Well, well! I see some things never change, do they, Ridge?” Storm asked with barely concealed contempt. “Storm,” Ridge curtly greeted the other man with a nod. “I’m sorry; forgive my bad manners,” Storm said, as he extended his hand to Phyllis. “I’m Stephen Logan, Jr.—Brooke’s brother.” “Oh!” Phyllis said as she nervously pumped Storm’s hand. “It’s nice meeting you, Mr. Logan; I’m Phyllis Summers.” “Likewise,” Storm replied, “but most people call me Storm.” He then looked at the couple with a raised eyebrow, as Ridge had protectively placed his hand on Phyllis’ waist, prompting Storm to ask himself, what is up with that? Unable to help himself, Ridge rudely asked, “Excuse me, Storm, but isn’t Brooke waiting for you?” However, rather than responding directly to Ridge’s question, Storm coolly asked, “How’s Taylor these days?” Ridge glowered at Storm, resisting the urge to throttle him. “Taylor is fine!” He acidly responded. “And, the kids?” Storm inquired. “My kids are doing just fine!” Ridge practically growled. “Glad to hear it,” Storm replied. “Please give Taylor my regards.” “I suggest you keep my wife’s name out of your mouth!” Ridge belligerently ordered Storm. However, Storm was hardly impressed. “I will—provided you can keep your hands off the models!” He cheekily snapped. Ridge exhaled and Phyllis immediately became uncomfortable under Storm’s intense stare. Ridge could not decide if Storm was trying to be funny or not. One thing he did know was that he did not appreciate Storm messing up his game—especially after he worked so hard to work the “whip appeal” on Phyllis and get her under his spell. He certainly did not need any reminders that he had a wife and children at home. “I think I should go,” Phyllis hurriedly said. “Ignore this—this hater! You don’t have to go anywhere!” Ridge said. Storm chuckled. “So I’m a hater now? You know, Ridge, I never really appreciated your sense of humor until now! I guess to your way of thinking, any man who respects the institution of marriage would be a ‘hater.’” “Look you—I have a lot of respect for my marriage!” Ridge hotly insisted. “I’m sure you do,” Storm said. “Ms. Summers, may I give you a word of advice?” “I’m warning you—” A seething Ridge ground out between gritted teeth. “I would be very careful if I were you,” Storm continued, ignoring Ridge. “Old Ridge here has had been ridden more than the rollercoaster at Six Flags,” Storm quipped. An incensed Ridge jumped in front of Phyllis and grabbed Storm by his collar. “You bastard!” He snarled. Storm immediately pushed Ridge off of him like a pesky fly. He then brushed his suit coat as if he had just been contaminated. “I’m sorry about that, Ms. Summers,” he said. “Just remember what I said. As for you, Ridge, your sh*t is going to catch up with you one day. Hopefully, your wife and kids won’t end up as collateral damage.” Ridge nearly lunged for Storm again and Storm took a defensive stance. However, their brief altercation was quickly aborted when they saw Detectives Alphonse “Salt” Moretti and Krista “Pepa” Blair walking in their direction. “Excuse me, gentlemen,” Detective Moretti said as he flashed his badge. “Is there a problem?” “No problem,” Storm and Ridge responded in unison. “I think I better go,” a flustered Phyllis nervously said. “I’ll walk you to the elevator,” Ridge offered. “If you will excuse me, detectives—” “That really won’t be necessary, Ridge,” Phyllis quickly said, casting a furtive glance at the detectives and Storm. “But, I insist,” he said, as he quickly escorted Phyllis to the elevator. Detective Blair, who did not miss a trick, quickly assessed the situation and shook her head in disgust. Have mercy! She thought. … “What was that all about?” Phyllis asked as she and Ridge waited for the elevator to arrive. “Nothing for you to worry about, baby,” Ridge murmured. “Storm has always hated me because of Brooke, and he’s always hated it that Taylor dumped him for me.” Ridge explained. When the elevator arrived, Phyllis coolly extended her hand to Ridge. “It was—um, very interesting!” She said with a grin. “For me, too!” Ridge said with a smile. “By the way, I’ll let my dad know about the condo.” “Good,” Phyllis nodded. “How soon can you come by?” She softly asked. “As soon as I can, and don’t worry about filling out one of those pesky ‘admit’ slips with the concierge,” Ridge advised, already thinking ahead. “I have my own key!” He said with a wink. _______________
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Post by GIOVANNA on Jun 27, 2009 2:18:28 GMT -5
Storm pleasantly greeted Megan but not before doing a quick double-take. What a knockout! He thought. “Good morning,” Megan said with a smile, trying to look cool. Oh my God! I think he’s checking me out! “I’m here to see Brooke,” Storm said barely able to take his eyes off of Megan. “I’m—” “—her brother, Storm,” Megan interjected much to Storm’s surprise. “I, um, met you at Brooke’s house a few years ago.” Storm raised an eyebrow. “I see you that have a good memory for faces,” he said. “That’s because I pay attention!” Megan saucily replied. “I, um—I’ll buzz Brooke and let her know you’re here.” “No need,” Storm said. “She’s expecting me.” “Not a problem,” Megan said with a pleasant smile. “It was nice seeing you again, Ms. Connelly,” Storm said with a grin, making a note to get “the digits” before he and Brooke left. “And, you too, Mr. Logan,” Megan said as she watched Storm walk away. Lord, please let him turn around! Megan silently prayed. She quickly glanced over her shoulder and was gratified when she noticed that her prayer had been answered. … With his hand still on the small of Phyllis’ back, Ridge leaned forward and whispered something in her ear, sending her into a fit of giggles. Sensing that they were no longer alone, Ridge looked away from Phyllis and was startled to see Storm standing directly in front of them. Ridge’s eyes widened and he stiffened slightly. Oh sh*t! Too late, he realized he had been busted and wondered how long it would before Storm rushed to Taylor and put a bug in her ear while offering her his shoulder to cry on. However, he stubbornly refused to remove his hand from Phyllis’ back. With his eyes, Ridge all but dared Storm to say something about it. Not bothering to hide his disgust, Storm frowned and was more than happy to oblige. “Well, well! I see some things never change, do they, Ridge?” Storm asked with barely concealed contempt. “Storm,” Ridge curtly greeted the other man with a nod. “I’m sorry; forgive my bad manners,” Storm said, as he extended his hand to Phyllis. “I’m Stephen Logan, Jr.—Brooke’s brother.” “Oh!” Phyllis said as she nervously pumped Storm’s hand. “It’s nice meeting you, Mr. Logan; I’m Phyllis Summers.” “Likewise,” Storm replied, “but most people call me Storm.” He then looked at the couple with a raised eyebrow, as Ridge had protectively placed his hand on Phyllis’ waist, prompting Storm to ask himself, what is up with that? Unable to help himself, Ridge rudely asked, “Excuse me, Storm, but isn’t Brooke waiting for you?” However, rather than responding directly to Ridge’s question, Storm coolly asked, “How’s Taylor these days?” Ridge glowered at Storm, resisting the urge to throttle him. “Taylor is fine!” He acidly responded. “And, the kids?” Storm inquired. “My kids are doing just fine!” Ridge practically growled. “Glad to hear it,” Storm replied. “Please give Taylor my regards.” “I suggest you keep my wife’s name out of your mouth!” Ridge belligerently ordered Storm. However, Storm was hardly impressed. “I will—provided you can keep your hands off the models!” He cheekily snapped. Ridge exhaled and Phyllis immediately became uncomfortable under Storm’s intense stare. Ridge could not decide if Storm was trying to be funny or not. One thing he did know was that he did not appreciate Storm messing up his game—especially after he worked so hard to work the “whip appeal” on Phyllis and get her under his spell. He certainly did not need any reminders that he had a wife and children at home. “I think I should go,” Phyllis hurriedly said. “Ignore this—this hater! You don’t have to go anywhere!” Ridge said. Storm chuckled. “So I’m a hater now? You know, Ridge, I never really appreciated your sense of humor until now! I guess to your way of thinking, any man who respects the institution of marriage would be a ‘hater.’” “Look you—I have a lot of respect for my marriage!” Ridge hotly insisted. “I’m sure you do,” Storm said. “Ms. Summers, may I give you a word of advice?” “I’m warning you—” A seething Ridge ground out between gritted teeth. “I would be very careful if I were you,” Storm continued, ignoring Ridge. “Old Ridge here has had been ridden more than the rollercoaster at Six Flags,” Storm quipped.An incensed Ridge jumped in front of Phyllis and grabbed Storm by his collar. “You bastard!” He snarled. Storm immediately pushed Ridge off of him like a pesky fly. He then brushed his suit coat as if he had just been contaminated. “I’m sorry about that, Ms. Summers,” he said. “Just remember what I said. As for you, Ridge, your sh*t is going to catch up with you one day. Hopefully, your wife and kids won’t end up as collateral damage.” Ridge nearly lunged for Storm again and Storm took a defensive stance. However, their brief altercation was quickly aborted when they saw Detectives Alphonse “Salt” Moretti and Krista “Pepa” Blair walking in their direction. “Excuse me, gentlemen,” Detective Moretti said as he flashed his badge. “Is there a problem?” “No problem,” Storm and Ridge responded in unison. “I think I better go,” a flustered Phyllis nervously said. “I’ll walk you to the elevator,” Ridge offered. “If you will excuse me, detectives—” “That really won’t be necessary, Ridge,” Phyllis quickly said, casting a furtive glance at the detectives and Storm. “But, I insist,” he said, as he quickly escorted Phyllis to the elevator. Detective Blair, who did not miss a trick, quickly assessed the situation and shook her head in disgust. Have mercy! She thought. … “What was that all about?” Phyllis asked as she and Ridge waited for the elevator to arrive. “Nothing for you to worry about, baby,” Ridge murmured. “Storm has always hated me because of Brooke, and he’s always hated it that Taylor dumped him for me.” Ridge explained.When the elevator arrived, Phyllis coolly extended her hand to Ridge. “It was—um, very interesting!” She said with a grin. “For me, too!” Ridge said with a smile. “By the way, I’ll let my dad know about the condo.” “Good,” Phyllis nodded. “How soon can you come by?” She softly asked. “As soon as I can, and don’t worry about filling out one of those pesky ‘admit’ slips with the concierge,” Ridge advised, already thinking ahead. “I have my own key!” He said with a wink. _______________ Another excellent installment!
Gotta love Storm, he just cuts to the chase, doesn't he?
“Old Ridge here has had been ridden more than the rollercoaster at Six Flags.”
Priceless!
Man, Ridge is a piece of work! Here he is, with his fly hanging open, and he STILL doesn't have the good grace to look embarrassed. And of course Storm is a hater because he calls him on his sleazy behavior. Storm is right, one day Ridge's s&it is going to catch up with him, and I want a front row seat when it does.
And I like the idea of Megan and Storm. Megan, IMO, needed some action.
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MissJr
Lounging on the Deck
Brooke IS the Bold & the Beautiful!
Posts: 14,065
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Post by MissJr on Jun 27, 2009 13:50:49 GMT -5
Storm pleasantly greeted Megan but not before doing a quick double-take. What a knockout! He thought. “Good morning,” Megan said with a smile, trying to look cool. Oh my God! I think he’s checking me out! “I’m here to see Brooke,” Storm said barely able to take his eyes off of Megan. “I’m—” “—her brother, Storm,” Megan interjected much to Storm’s surprise. “I, um, met you at Brooke’s house a few years ago.” Storm raised an eyebrow. “I see you that have a good memory for faces,” he said. “That’s because I pay attention!” Megan saucily replied. “I, um—I’ll buzz Brooke and let her know you’re here.” “No need,” Storm said. “She’s expecting me.” “Not a problem,” Megan said with a pleasant smile. “It was nice seeing you again, Ms. Connelly,” Storm said with a grin, making a note to get “the digits” before he and Brooke left. “And, you too, Mr. Logan,” Megan said as she watched Storm walk away. Lord, please let him turn around! Megan silently prayed. She quickly glanced over her shoulder and was gratified when she noticed that her prayer had been answered. … With his hand still on the small of Phyllis’ back, Ridge leaned forward and whispered something in her ear, sending her into a fit of giggles. Sensing that they were no longer alone, Ridge looked away from Phyllis and was startled to see Storm standing directly in front of them. Ridge’s eyes widened and he stiffened slightly. Oh sh*t! Too late, he realized he had been busted and wondered how long it would before Storm rushed to Taylor and put a bug in her ear while offering her his shoulder to cry on. However, he stubbornly refused to remove his hand from Phyllis’ back. With his eyes, Ridge all but dared Storm to say something about it. Not bothering to hide his disgust, Storm frowned and was more than happy to oblige. “Well, well! I see some things never change, do they, Ridge?” Storm asked with barely concealed contempt. “Storm,” Ridge curtly greeted the other man with a nod. “I’m sorry; forgive my bad manners,” Storm said, as he extended his hand to Phyllis. “I’m Stephen Logan, Jr.—Brooke’s brother.” “Oh!” Phyllis said as she nervously pumped Storm’s hand. “It’s nice meeting you, Mr. Logan; I’m Phyllis Summers.” “Likewise,” Storm replied, “but most people call me Storm.” He then looked at the couple with a raised eyebrow, as Ridge had protectively placed his hand on Phyllis’ waist, prompting Storm to ask himself, what is up with that? Unable to help himself, Ridge rudely asked, “Excuse me, Storm, but isn’t Brooke waiting for you?” However, rather than responding directly to Ridge’s question, Storm coolly asked, “How’s Taylor these days?” Ridge glowered at Storm, resisting the urge to throttle him. “Taylor is fine!” He acidly responded. “And, the kids?” Storm inquired. “My kids are doing just fine!” Ridge practically growled. “Glad to hear it,” Storm replied. “Please give Taylor my regards.” “I suggest you keep my wife’s name out of your mouth!” Ridge belligerently ordered Storm. However, Storm was hardly impressed. “I will—provided you can keep your hands off the models!” He cheekily snapped. Ridge exhaled and Phyllis immediately became uncomfortable under Storm’s intense stare. Ridge could not decide if Storm was trying to be funny or not. One thing he did know was that he did not appreciate Storm messing up his game—especially after he worked so hard to work the “whip appeal” on Phyllis and get her under his spell. He certainly did not need any reminders that he had a wife and children at home. “I think I should go,” Phyllis hurriedly said. “Ignore this—this hater! You don’t have to go anywhere!” Ridge said. Storm chuckled. “So I’m a hater now? You know, Ridge, I never really appreciated your sense of humor until now! I guess to your way of thinking, any man who respects the institution of marriage would be a ‘hater.’” “Look you—I have a lot of respect for my marriage!” Ridge hotly insisted. “I’m sure you do,” Storm said. “Ms. Summers, may I give you a word of advice?” “I’m warning you—” A seething Ridge ground out between gritted teeth. “I would be very careful if I were you,” Storm continued, ignoring Ridge. “Old Ridge here has had been ridden more than the rollercoaster at Six Flags,” Storm quipped.An incensed Ridge jumped in front of Phyllis and grabbed Storm by his collar. “You bastard!” He snarled. Storm immediately pushed Ridge off of him like a pesky fly. He then brushed his suit coat as if he had just been contaminated. “I’m sorry about that, Ms. Summers,” he said. “Just remember what I said. As for you, Ridge, your sh*t is going to catch up with you one day. Hopefully, your wife and kids won’t end up as collateral damage.” Ridge nearly lunged for Storm again and Storm took a defensive stance. However, their brief altercation was quickly aborted when they saw Detectives Alphonse “Salt” Moretti and Krista “Pepa” Blair walking in their direction. “Excuse me, gentlemen,” Detective Moretti said as he flashed his badge. “Is there a problem?” “No problem,” Storm and Ridge responded in unison. “I think I better go,” a flustered Phyllis nervously said. “I’ll walk you to the elevator,” Ridge offered. “If you will excuse me, detectives—” “That really won’t be necessary, Ridge,” Phyllis quickly said, casting a furtive glance at the detectives and Storm. “But, I insist,” he said, as he quickly escorted Phyllis to the elevator. Detective Blair, who did not miss a trick, quickly assessed the situation and shook her head in disgust. Have mercy! She thought. … “What was that all about?” Phyllis asked as she and Ridge waited for the elevator to arrive. “Nothing for you to worry about, baby,” Ridge murmured. “Storm has always hated me because of Brooke, and he’s always hated it that Taylor dumped him for me.” Ridge explained.When the elevator arrived, Phyllis coolly extended her hand to Ridge. “It was—um, very interesting!” She said with a grin. “For me, too!” Ridge said with a smile. “By the way, I’ll let my dad know about the condo.” “Good,” Phyllis nodded. “How soon can you come by?” She softly asked. “As soon as I can, and don’t worry about filling out one of those pesky ‘admit’ slips with the concierge,” Ridge advised, already thinking ahead. “I have my own key!” He said with a wink. _______________ Another excellent installment!
Gotta love Storm, he just cuts to the chase, doesn't he?
“Old Ridge here has had been ridden more than the rollercoaster at Six Flags.”
Priceless!
Man, Ridge is a piece of work! Here he is, with his fly hanging open, and he STILL doesn't have the good grace to look embarrassed. And of course Storm is a hater because he calls him on his sleazy behavior. Storm is right, one day Ridge's s&it is going to catch up with him, and I want a front row seat when it does.
And I like the idea of Megan and Storm. Megan, IMO, needed some action.Gio, men like Ridge always slay me. They will stand there with a straight face and claim they respect their marriages and wives while still pretty much doing what they want. Even after everything that happened, you would think Ridge--and Phyllis--would try to be cool. Instead, they managed to arrange an assignation at the condo Phyllis will be subletting from Eric. Heaven forbid if Ridge should acknowledge that Storm and most men have some very real reasons for hating him. I mean, he only dogged Storm's sister out and he was caught dead to rights dogging out Taylor in plain view. I like the idea of Megan and Storm, too. I always thought she was one of the most beautiful women on the show and it infuriated me that Bradley threw her away on Massimo for plot-driven reasons.
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Post by lalogan on Jun 27, 2009 18:27:43 GMT -5
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Widge is a d*uchebag! He is behaving exactly as he did when he was married to Taydrunk, encouraging Brooke (and later Morgan) to flirt with him, all the while acting as if he wasn't...dangling them on a string, basking in their attention. And then, on the chance that someone called him on it, had the colossal gall to react with wide-eyed, pseudo-innocent surprise. "What do you mean, I led you on, Lowwwwwwwwwwgaaaaaaaaaaaan/Morgan? I love my wife, I'm committed to her!"
He really does like having his cake and eating it too. Like the Morgan e-mail boink. He didn't even stop to think how odd it was that Taydrunk, who was worried about her father and his 450th heart attack, would take time to write him an e-mail giving him permission to have sex with Morgan, THAT MINUTE, because artificial insemination somehow wasn't good enough anymore, and anyway, Morgan was ovulating -- never mind that she'd be ovulating again around that same time, next month.
Did he stop to question the authenticity of the e-mail? Heck, did he stop at all? No way! He all but left skidmarks racing over to Morgan's, primed and ready. After all, it was free booty with his ex, sanctioned by his wife no less! Who was he to go against Wifey's wishes?
LORD I loathe that scuzz...all the more because of the contortions DumbBell and his team of chimps with word processors force the show into, by way of making Widge look "innocent," and absolving him of his disgusting behavior. He was "tricked." He was "confused." And if you buy that, I've got some wonderful ocean-front property in Arizona that I'd like to sell you.
Meanwhile Brooke can't sneeze too loud without being set upon by all the show's nasty, undeservedly self-righteous harpies, and being raked over the coals by the soap press. Remember the huge "scandal" that erupted when she wore her hair in braids and ate fresh fruit in front of Widge and ErWeak? Everyone knows that only colossal sluts do such things! And everyone also knows that lingerie is for tramps and no decent woman wears it...unless said woman is Taydrunk, of course. Plus, having or fathering a baby out of wedlock is the epitome of wrongness...unless you're Taydrunk, Satanie, or Widge.
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Post by Horsey on Jun 29, 2009 7:30:26 GMT -5
Women like Stella rarely back away w/o trying to take a pound of flesh with them one way or the other. Hopefully for her sake, she'll take her attorney's advice...but I doubt it. I too am intrigued by a Storm and Megan pairing. Both totally wasted characters on the show. I love that Storm at least lives on in the fanfics ;D ;D and the line of the day: you are a master at the one liners MissJr
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Post by sugarpie on Jun 29, 2009 8:34:47 GMT -5
Women like Stella rarely back away w/o trying to take a pound of flesh with them one way or the other. Hopefully for her sake, she'll take her attorney's advice...but I doubt it. I too am intrigued by a Storm and Megan pairing. Both totally wasted characters on the show. I love that Storm at least lives on in the fanfics ;D ;D and the line of the day: you are a master at the one liners MissJr ROTFL, I had to chuckle at that line myself!
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MissJr
Lounging on the Deck
Brooke IS the Bold & the Beautiful!
Posts: 14,065
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Post by MissJr on Jun 30, 2009 15:32:56 GMT -5
Taylor’s sparkling blue eyes widened in astonishment. Why would Kristen fight so vigorously to defend the very woman who brought so much destruction to her family? She wondered. To her way of thinking, it was bad enough that Ridge spent most of their relationship defending Brooke. Now, his sister was apparently onboard the “Brooke love train,” as well, and it greatly offended Taylor’s sensibilities. How she hated it when some Johnny-come-lately came barging in with her opinions as if she had always been privy to what was going on. As far as she was concerned, Kristen needed to go somewhere and sit down and mind her business. Determined to set the record straight, a furious Taylor tore into her sister-in-law. “The whole story?” Taylor sneered nastily. “Oh, I’ll tell the police the whole story alright! I’ll tell them how Brooke cursed me out and physically attacked me on the same day your mother was shot. And, this was after she was done attacking poor Macy! In this very hospital, she threatened to slap Macy and from what I understand, she attacked your father and proudly said she would do it again. But guess who was arrested for that? Brooke told me to my face that she wished Stephanie would drop dead and how she would dance on her grave! What kind of sick person does that? Now you may truly believe that Brooke is this innocent who’s being railroaded because of whatever animosity I supposedly have toward her. Think what you want, but none of it changes the fact that Brooke has been antagonistic, vindictive and quite violent in recent months. You can ignore that if you want, but you do so at your own peril. Now, if you love your mother as much as you claim to, then you would want to see the person who shot her brought to justice!” Taylor yelled. Kristen looked at Taylor as if she was crazy. “You know, Taylor, judging by the way you looked when I ran into you in the waiting room, I suspect that there’s a whole lot more going on with you than meets the eye,” she coolly replied, throwing Taylor completely off balance. “What?!” Taylor shrieked, managing to look even more wild-eyed and feral. A self-conscious Taylor wished she had her makeup compact at that moment and silently kicked herself for leaving her bag in Stephanie’s room. “You heard me, Taylor,” Kristen responded. “As much as I know you love my mother, I refuse to believe that this emotional display of yours is in any way related to the shooting. What’s the matter, Taylor?” Kristen softly asked as she stepped closer to Taylor. “Are my brother’s affections starting to wane again?” Taylor looked as if she was going to pass out. “What does my marriage with Ridge have to do with any of this?” She asked in a shaky voice. “Just this,” Kristen slowly said. “Given what has transpired in Brooke’s life over the past several months, I don’t doubt that she’s a different person these days. Wouldn’t you be? You see, Thorne has kept me abreast of everything that occurred in Venice and afterwards—things that you obviously aren’t privy to or have chosen to ignore! Now, I’m sorry that things aren’t quite working the way you, Ridge and my father had hoped. Just be sure that the Venice plot and its pitiful aftermath are included as a part of the story that you intend to tell the cops!” “How dare you bring up Venice to me?!” An outraged Taylor screamed. “You have no idea what happened there. None!” She insisted as she moved her right hand in a slashing motion. “Of course, Thorne put his own spin on what happened. My husband didn’t have to tell me a thing. I saw for myself what transpired in Venice and that’s that! The tramp came on to Ridge and he rejected her. End of story! Ridge has been totally upfront with me about everything and has been an ideal husband since we’ve been back, and Brooke can’t stand that. And, it’s appalling that you would stand there and imply that I would use whatever animosity I may harbor toward Brooke as a pretext to get her arrested!” Kristen remained unmoved by Taylor’s tirade. “Taylor, are you really willing to ignore what my mother said? Do you really want to pretend that you didn’t hear my mother say that Brooke wasn’t the shooter?” “I’m not ignoring anything,” Taylor stubbornly argued. “As a doctor, I’m inclined to believe that your Mother’s first utterances were more of an accurate self-report. As for what she said a few moments later, she was clearly incoherent by then and I wouldn’t put much credence in those statements.” “And, as her daughter, I’m telling you that my mother made her position clear that Brooke was not the shooter!” Kristen screamed. By now, she was ready to mop the hospital corridors up with Taylor. A fed up Kristen then decided to “go there.” “You just love to throw that title, ‘Dr. Forrester,’ around every time you want to ram your biased opinions down others’ throats and pass them off as facts. I’ll be the first to admit that my mother was incoherent, but let’s be real. She was incoherent when she made both of her statements. Yet, you want to stand here and cherry pick the one that allows you to push your own agenda—getting Brooke out the way. Well, doctor, it doesn’t take a medical or doctorate degree to see that you marriage is built on quicksand! Had you all simply left Brooke and Thorne alone, things wouldn’t be in this sorry state now. But you gotta love the irony! When you helped to destroy Brooke and Thorne’s relationship, all you did was expose how weak your own relationship is!” _______________
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Post by Horsey on Jul 2, 2009 8:10:06 GMT -5
Thank goodness Kristen put Taylor in her place!! She's calling them like she sees them, and she's right on the money!
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MissJr
Lounging on the Deck
Brooke IS the Bold & the Beautiful!
Posts: 14,065
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Post by MissJr on Jul 6, 2009 20:00:35 GMT -5
“I’m sorry, detectives,” Ridge apologized. “Physical confrontations in the office … that’s not my thing. I usually have way more couth than that. My nerves are still raw from everything that’s happened, plus I had a meeting that ran over a little longer than I expected.” “Not a problem,” Detective Moretti calmly stated, wondering about Ridge’s diarrhea of the mouth. It was as if the man was trying to overcompensate for something, but what? Detective Moretti wondered. “Mr. Forrester, would this be a good time to interview you? We’re mindful that you’re at work and will try to take as little of your time as possible.” “Oh, no, no! It’s not a problem. After all, I’m the one who called to inform you that I have reason to believe my mother knows who her attacker is,” Ridge confirmed. “If you and your partner would follow me, we can go ahead and get started,” an eager Ridge said. Ridge then ushered Detectives Moretti and Blair into his office and shut the door. Through their years of training, the detectives took a mental inventory of the office, noting its sumptuous furniture and furnishings. It was the perfect setting for a high-powered executive and no expense seemed to have been spared in decorating it. Their initial assessment completed, the detectives now began to look beneath the surface. Although nothing seemed to be amiss, they immediately picked up on something that did not seem quite right. For starters, it was apparent that Ridge had made a hasty effort to straighten his office before their arrival. But why? Their eyes zeroed in on Ridge’s credenza, and they noticed that something was off kilter. Although they could not quite put their finger on it, there was something disturbing about the way the pictures of Ridge’s wife and children were arranged. Detectives Moretti and Blair relied on their other senses, including their keen sense of smell. Detective Blair sniffed the air and was thoroughly put off by its rather pungent aroma. Making no effort to disguise her displeasure, she signaled her partner with her eyes. Detective Moretti signaled that he, too, picked up on the musky aroma. They were both surprised that little, if any, effort was made to mask the odor. Detective Blair then remembered the interplay she detected between Ridge and Phyllis. Her eyes widened perceptively. While Ridge obliviously shuffled some papers around, Detective Blair took in the full measure of the man and detected the aura of sleaze that hovered about him. Trifling! Detective Blair thought with a frown. “Have mercy! Do you smell that?” She asked her partner under her breath. “How could I miss it?” Detective Moretti asked in a deadpan voice. “It’s not like he’s even trying to mask it. He probably doesn’t notice it.” “Well, I do, and it smells like somebody spent the morning having themselves some hot, buck-naked sex up in here!” A disgusted Detective Blair whispered. … “So, what’s the deal with the goddess at the front desk?” Storm asked Brooke. “Is she married, engaged or otherwise committed?” “Well, hello to you, too, Stormy!” Brooke answered with a laugh. “Would it be too much to ask that you put your tongue back in your mouth and greet me properly or at least inquire about my welfare?” “Oh, yeah,” Storm sheepishly replied. “How is it being back in the lion’s den?” Brooke sighed deeply before responding. “Well, let’s see. We’re already off to a raucous start. I had a terrific fight with Ridge first thing this morning about some personal issues, after which I briefly interviewed a new model he discovered very recently.” “Hmmm … I think I met her,” Storm commented. “Redhead? Nice body?” A curious Brooke asked with a squint. “Yeah, that’s her, and she has another quality which may prove to be quite dangerous to Forrester Creations in the long run. Apparently, she’s already smitten with her boss, and he seems to be quite taken with her,” Storm noted. “Not my problem,” Brooke quickly responded. “If you’re concerned about Ridge’s inability to keep it in his pants, take it up with his wife. I’m not married to Ridge, nor am I in a relationship with him. Who and what he beds on his own time is his affair.” “Interesting choice of words,” Storm said with a smirk. “And an unfortunate one. While I understand your distaste for Ridge these days, I would suggest you get off your high horse and pay close attention to what’s going on with those two and try to nip it in the bud. I’m actually surprised that you would enable Ridge’s lechery.” “I’m not enabling anything!” Brooke hotly disputed. “I simply don’t care!” “That may be all well and good, but you ignore his behavior at your peril, and it will end up costing Forrester Creations in the long run. Now, I’m not saying that you have to publicly call him out or anything, but at the very least keep your eyes and ears opened.” Brooke sighed in annoyance. It was mess like this that sometimes made her want to resign, relocate her family to Encino and open a horse ranch. “Fine,” a pensive Brooke replied. “I have no doubt that you’re right. I just resent having to babysit a grown man who’s old enough to know better. As for Phyllis Summers, Megan thinks she’s nothing but trouble; now I’m really starting to wonder. But, I’ll deal with that later. And, speaking of things I have to deal with later, do you know I actually had to curse Thorne out?” “What in the world for?” Storm asked. “He informed me this morning that the police were at his house yesterday grilling him and his sorry-ass wife about Stephanie’s shooting.” Brooke responded. “Whew! That’s some pretty strong language to describe Macy, don’t you think?” A surprised Storm asked with the trademark Logan squint. “I don’t care!” Brooke snapped. “Thanks to her, her mother-in-law may have come in here gunning for me the night of the shooting only to wind up on the floor of my office herself! And to top it off—” “Whoa! Back up!” Storm interrupted with a wave of his hand. He was thunderstruck by what he thought he heard. “Are you telling me, Brooke Kelly Logan, that Macy may have put Stephanie on you?” “She didn’t ‘may have’ anything; she did. And just like her mentor, she wants me dead and the bitch didn’t care how it was accomplished. Now thanks to her, I will never know exactly what Stephanie had planned for me or whether I was the shooter’s actual target and Stephanie simply got in the way. I won’t have this, Stormy! Later on today, I’m going to have to stop by the police precinct and swear out a warrant against Macy and get a restraining order. If people get upset about it, then that’s their problem! Then to add insult to injury, the police are now investigating me as if I had something to do with this!” Brooke yelled. “You’re smart to want to get that restraining order even if it upsets Thorne or Macy’s family. As for the police investigation, I suspect they see you as a person of interest at this point,” Storm cautioned Brooke. “That’s not the impression I got from Thorne. He made it clear that they were building a case against me as a suspect. Face it, Stormy. I had the motive, the means and the opportunity. And now that I’ve handled that gun, they’re sure to arrest me any day now!” A frightened Brooke said. “Brooke, that gun poses all kinds of problems for you; I won’t deny that. But, keep in mind that the police have to investigate the case from all angles and look at several suspects, as well as their motives. As a matter of fact, there are two detectives interviewing Ridge as we speak. I’m sure he can shed some more light on his mother’s activities, as well as her list of enemies.” “Pffft! Do you really expect that mama’s boy to acknowledge that his mother wasn't universally loved?” Brooke asked in contempt. “By the time he’s done, he’ll have them believing that she’s Mother Bountiful or something.” “Well, let me pick your brain then,” Storm quietly said. “Do you really believe that Stephanie would have been spurred to action by Macy?” “I don’t see why not. She’s done it before at the Big Bear cabin,” Brooke reminded Storm. “True,” Storm acknowledged with a nod of his head. “But, let’s just say for the sake of argument that Stephanie was motivated by the tussle you got into with Taylor instead of with Macy. How do we know that she even spoke to Macy that day? But, I know Taylor well enough to know that she would have called Stephanie immediately and that Stephanie would have reacted predictably.” Brooke’s hazel orbs became a pair of angry slits. Damn Taylor! She thought. As if she suddenly remembered something, Brooke placed her hands on her hips and began to pace. “Stormy, how well do you really know Taylor?” “What?” Storm gasped, obviously surprised by the abrupt change of subject. “Well, you were engaged to the woman at one time. You say you know her well enough to predict her actions. What else do you know about her? Surely, you had to have known something about her background—her history, her people, where she’s from, her core values, and whether she’s hiding anything.” “WHOA! Brooke, where is all this coming from? Why are you asking all these questions about Taylor?” A suspicious Storm asked. “Storm, I’m asking these questions for a reason. You went to school with Taylor and knew her maiden name was Hamilton and that she was previously married to Blake Hayes. Again--what else do you know about her?” “Well, come to think of it, the things I know about Taylor are on a rather superficial level,” Storm responded. “I mean, she didn’t go into a lot of detail with me about her past, but I’m sure she would have opened up to me.” A disbelieving Brooke looked at her brother and shook her head. “Mmm hmm, and I’m the tooth fairy! Uh-uh, Stormy. I think Taylor went through a lot of trouble to keep her past hidden—even from you despite the fact that you were her fiancé. She even changed her name.” “Changed her name? Brooke, what in the world are you talking about?” Storm asked, his voice beginning to rise in anger. He was getting truly fed up with this vendetta his sister seemed to have against Taylor! “Storm, would it shock you to learn that the woman whose name was Taylor Hayes when you met her—the woman you were going to spend the rest of your life with—was born Deborah JoBeth Hamilton?” _______________
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Post by GIOVANNA on Jul 6, 2009 22:51:48 GMT -5
Well, in response to post #635, methinks Taylor doth protest too much. And just when I thought I could sympathize with Taylor.
What a haughty bit of goods! I mean, how DARE Kristen not accept her version of what happened at face value. She all but tore Kristen's head off.
Her rant was more wishful thinking. Ridge has hardly been upfront with her and he has NOT been the ideal husband. I wonder how Taylor would react if she knew that, while she was carrying on, her "Ideal husband" was making Phyllis scream in his office.
And I love Kristen. She wants the person who tried to kill her mother caught, but she isn't rushing to judgment. This is such a change from how the show is being written, because we all know Bell, Kristen would be played by an actress in her late twenties and the character would be nodding her head in agreement with Taylor.
As for Ridge, just what the hell is he up to, and what is he thinking? He only heard a few hushed whispers between his mother and Taylor, which is hardly evidence. How I wish he would keep his stupid mouth shut, I have a creepy feeling his attempts at Colombo will blow up and screw things up for some innocent party. (Brooke.)
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MissJr
Lounging on the Deck
Brooke IS the Bold & the Beautiful!
Posts: 14,065
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Post by MissJr on Jul 8, 2009 5:03:00 GMT -5
Well, in response to post #635, methinks Taylor doth protest too much. And just when I thought I could sympathize with Taylor.
What a haughty bit of goods! I mean, how DARE Kristen not accept her version of what happened at face value. She all but tore Kristen's head off.
Her rant was more wishful thinking. Ridge has hardly been upfront with her and he has NOT been the ideal husband. I wonder how Taylor would react if she knew that, while she was carrying on, her "Ideal husband" was making Phyllis scream in his office.
And I love Kristen. She wants the person who tried to kill her mother caught, but she isn't rushing to judgment. This is such a change from how the show is being written, because we all know Bell, Kristen would be played by an actress in her late twenties and the character would be nodding her head in agreement with Taylor.
As for Ridge, just what the hell is he up to, and what is he thinking? He only heard a few hushed whispers between his mother and Taylor, which is hardly evidence. How I wish he would keep his stupid mouth shut, I have a creepy feeling his attempts at Colombo will blow up and screw things up for some innocent party. (Brooke.) Taylor has always been haughty and full of herself, and has had no shame about giving self-serving advice under the guise of "counseling" people. I had her pegged that way ever since she "advised" Brooke and Eric they should stay together for Little Eric's sake, while she went on to help herself to Ridge. That she would cherry pick what Stephanie said in a moment of obvious distress under the guise of "helping" is just typical. She needs to check her man, who obviously has no respect for her. Kristen wants justice but she is smart enough to know that everything is not always what it seems on the surface. Her silly ho of a brother means well, but in his eagerness to report what his mother said, he'll make certain ASSumptions that may only make the situation worse.
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MissJr
Lounging on the Deck
Brooke IS the Bold & the Beautiful!
Posts: 14,065
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Post by MissJr on Jul 8, 2009 19:50:10 GMT -5
Sally nervously fidgeted as she listened to Adam finalize arrangements for a consultation for Macy. For her part, Macy stared straight ahead lost in thought. Her pending legal problems were the farthest things from her mind. She watched her father with a vacuous smile on her face and vaguely wondered what she should wear and whether she could fit in an appointment to have her roots retouched. “Uh huh … yeah …” Adam cryptically said, as he wrote on a nearby notepad. “Yes, sir; we can be there at 2:00—no problem. Oh, and we’re willing to pay whatever we have to pay to make this go away.” When it became apparent that Adam was able to successfully secure a lawyer for Macy, Sally’s hopes soared. Maybe this will work out after all, she thought. “Thanks again!” A grateful Adam said before hanging up the phone. “So we’re on for 2:00?” Sally anxiously asked. “That’s right, Red,” Adam confirmed. “The first guy I called—Ted Barnett—indicated he had some kind of conflict and wouldn’t be able to help us, but he gave me the names of some really good lawyers. We’re seeing Tom Robb, who comes highly recommended.” “Thank God!” Sally exclaimed in relief as she threw her hands in the air and looked heavenward. “Do you hear that, Macy?” Adam asked his daughter. When Macy did not immediately respond, he snapped his fingers several times to get her attention. “Huh? Whuh?!” Macy asked in confusion. Adam frowned and had to control himself. “I said we’ve found a lawyer for you, and will be meeting with him at 2:00.” “Oh … great!” Macy replied automatically. Now maybe her parents could get off her back. “If you two don’t mind, I’m going to go and get ready.” Macy said as she quickly arose from the couch. “You do that, honey,” Sally said reassuringly. “We’re going to beat this!” “I have no doubt about that,” Adam agreed. “That is if Macy has nothing else to hide of course,” he skeptically added. Macy immediately took offense. “Gee, thanks for trusting me, Dad!” She said in a huff. “Well, you can’t blame me for being worried that another shoe is about to drop especially after what we just heard,” Adam reminded Macy. “Are you sure you’ve told us everything?” “Yes, I’ve told you everything!” A defensive Macy retorted. “Do I have your permission to at least go to the kitchen and fix myself something to eat or do you need to sniff my breath first?” She asked sarcastically. “Macy—” Sally began. However, Adam beat her to the punch. “There’s no need to get nasty, young lady! Forgive us if we are having some trust issues right now, but it’s not as if you’ve been the picture of sobriety lately.” “Fine,” Macy snapped. “I had one little relapse—just one and—” Sally interrupted Macy’s rant and replied in exasperation, “Well, that’s just the issue, now isn’t it, Macy? You can sit here and try to minimize how serious your drinking is all you want. You haven’t had just one relapse and you know it!” Macy stared in bemusement at her mother, genuinely surprised that the woman who was often her champion now seemed to be turning on her. “That’s not fair,” she began to whimper. In no mood to hear it, Adam cut Macy off at the pass. “You said you needed to get ready for your appointment; I would suggest you go and do that and try to get something in your stomach.” He pointedly suggested. “Honey, do you want me to fix you something to eat?” Sally asked. Macy hid a sly smile. “No, no; I’ll fix myself something light. I’ve imposed on you and Dad enough.” Macy then turned on the waterworks and managed to cry effectively enough that her parents were moved by her contrition. “What’s the matter, honey?” A concerned Sally asked. “I’m—I’m just so ashamed!” Macy sobbed quietly. “I only want you all to be proud of me and I just keep messing up!” As Macy expected, Sally immediately enveloped her in her embrace, while Adam looked on and briefly wondered if he had been a heel for berating his daughter so harshly. Secure in her parents’ love—and guilt—Macy smiled contentedly. … Macy turned on the water faucet in the kitchen full blast and made a show of running the garbage disposal. She then put on a performance by banging some pots and pans around and bustling about the kitchen to give the impression that she was preparing herself a nutritious breakfast. In actuality, the only “breakfast” Macy was interested in right now was a liquid one. The craving for alcohol was now all-consuming, and she was desperate to finally satisfy it. Confident that her parents were suitably distracted, Macy began to quietly search the cupboards for the vanilla extract. She needed that extract like an elixir to bolster her confidence to face her attorney and then the police. When she failed to immediately locate the vanilla extract, Macy became irritable. Where was it?! She practically screamed aloud. Macy continued her search and grew angrier and angrier. By now, she was on the verge of tears and was thoroughly convinced that her parents had conspired to rob her of the one thing that would get her through the day. How could they do such a cruel thing to her? She imagined herself rushing into the living room and shaking them both until their teeth rattled and screaming into their faces: “What did you do with my medicine? Where is my medicine?!” Just as she was about to give up and figuratively curl up into a ball and die, Macy struck pay dirt. There it was—tucked right behind the brown sugar and baking powder! Looking around to ensure that she was not being observed by prying eyes, Macy grabbed the red and white box and quickly opened it. She pulled out the bottle and mentally crossed her fingers. “Yes!” A triumphant Macy whispered with a raised fist. The bottle was nearly half full and it was just enough to give her the boost she needed. Macy’s hands shook as she tried to twist the cap off the bottle. However, her frustration mounted when she realized that the bottle was stuck due to the sticky residue of the extract. ARGGGHHHH! Macy silently shrieked. She rushed to the kitchen sink and turned on the hot water and held the neck of the bottle under the stream. Macy then spotted a pair of rubber gloves and grabbed one of them and used it to firmly grip the cap. Macy smiled in satisfaction when the cap slowly began to turn. At last! She thought. It had been her original intent to pour some of the vanilla extract into a cup of coffee to disguise its effect on her. However, she was annoyed that her gratification had been delayed by even just a few minutes and she no longer cared about being careful. Macy carelessly tossed the cap onto the granite countertop and proceeded to greedily gulp the vanilla extract directly from the bottle. Oh, so good! So … so … good! _______________
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Post by Horsey on Jul 9, 2009 8:05:36 GMT -5
;D Excellent attention to detail MissJr. Not that I've actually drank vanilla extract , but those lids do get stuck from the residue, and they are the dickens to get opened. I really didn't know whether to laugh or cry at Macy. On one hand she's brought this whole mess on herself, but on the other the girl is in need of some serious help. She seems almost determined to keep herself addicted. The way she's manipulating her parents is horrible....here they are securing her a good attorney, and supporting her through this mess, but all she thinks about is herself....I'm no expert on addictions, but it seems she falling into the same trap that most addicts do, and her parents while their intentions are well meaning they are actually enabling her by their support.
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Post by GIOVANNA on Jul 9, 2009 14:38:11 GMT -5
;D Excellent attention to detail MissJr. Not that I've actually drank vanilla extract , but those lids do get stuck from the residue, and they are the dickens to get opened. I really didn't know whether to laugh or cry at Macy. On one hand she's brought this whole mess on herself, but on the other the girl is in need of some serious help. She seems almost determined to keep herself addicted. The way she's manipulating her parents is horrible....here they are securing her a good attorney, and supporting her through this mess, but all she thinks about is herself....I'm no expert on addictions, but it seems she falling into the same trap that most addicts do, and her parents while their intentions are well meaning they are actually enabling her by their support. Awesome reading! :)Like Horsey, I am torn about Macy. On one hand, she is obsessed with getting that next drink to the point of drinking anything with alcohol in it. She would probably drink paint thinner if it had the desired effect. Truly pitiful! On the other hand, she is such a hateful bitch, I was itching to see Thorne slap her face for her comments.
And I feel bad for Sally and Adam. They truly love their daughter (God knows why.) and will be crushed when they find out she is playing them.
I wonder if Macy will be sloshed when she meets with her lawyer? She certainly seems to be a genius at shooting herself in the foot.
Brooke seemed truly pissed in the earlier chapter. I wonder if she makes good on her threat to have Macy arrested. Do it, Brooke!
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Post by Horsey on Jul 9, 2009 17:08:42 GMT -5
;D Excellent attention to detail MissJr. Not that I've actually drank vanilla extract , but those lids do get stuck from the residue, and they are the dickens to get opened. I really didn't know whether to laugh or cry at Macy. On one hand she's brought this whole mess on herself, but on the other the girl is in need of some serious help. She seems almost determined to keep herself addicted. The way she's manipulating her parents is horrible....here they are securing her a good attorney, and supporting her through this mess, but all she thinks about is herself....I'm no expert on addictions, but it seems she falling into the same trap that most addicts do, and her parents while their intentions are well meaning they are actually enabling her by their support. Awesome reading! :)Like Horsey, I am torn about Macy. On one hand, she is obsessed with getting that next drink to the point of drinking anything with alcohol in it. She would probably drink paint thinner if it had the desired effect. Truly pitiful! On the other hand, she is such a hateful bitch, I was itching to see Thorne slap her face for her comments.
And I feel bad for Sally and Adam. They truly love their daughter (God knows why.) and will be crushed when they find out she is playing them.
I wonder if Macy will be sloshed when she meets with her lawyer? She certainly seems to be a genius at shooting herself in the foot.
Brooke seemed truly pissed in the earlier chapter. I wonder if she makes good on her threat to have Macy arrested. Do it, Brooke!Gio, I just have to say that most times your thoughts and mine run in the same direction, you just state it much better!! lol...I wonder just how BIG that bottle of vanilla was...and lord help her if she would've tried to drink almond extract!
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Post by sugarpie on Jul 10, 2009 7:35:09 GMT -5
Just caught up reading.......LOL on Macy. I'm sorry I have no feelings for Macy. I never did.....she annoyed me from day one. I thought Sally should have had a spitfire like Morgan for her daughter. I love Storm....he's PRICELESS. ...Great installments ! ;D
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MissJr
Lounging on the Deck
Brooke IS the Bold & the Beautiful!
Posts: 14,065
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Post by MissJr on Jul 11, 2009 17:46:14 GMT -5
Awesome reading! :)Like Horsey, I am torn about Macy. On one hand, she is obsessed with getting that next drink to the point of drinking anything with alcohol in it. She would probably drink paint thinner if it had the desired effect. Truly pitiful! On the other hand, she is such a hateful bitch, I was itching to see Thorne slap her face for her comments.
And I feel bad for Sally and Adam. They truly love their daughter (God knows why.) and will be crushed when they find out she is playing them.
I wonder if Macy will be sloshed when she meets with her lawyer? She certainly seems to be a genius at shooting herself in the foot.
Brooke seemed truly pissed in the earlier chapter. I wonder if she makes good on her threat to have Macy arrested. Do it, Brooke! Gio, I just have to say that most times your thoughts and mine run in the same direction, you just state it much better!! lol...I wonder just how BIG that bottle of vanilla was...and lord help her if she would've tried to drink almond extract! Ladies, Macy definitely has some real issues and yes, she is an addict. Addicts can be quite selfish, manipulative and shameless in their quest for that next drink or hit. Her parents undoubtedly love her and need to put their heads together to figure out what to do next. Right now, they have more immediate goals, i.e. keeping her rump out of jail and extricating her from the mess that is Stephanie's shooting. Giovanna, Brooke has every intention of following through on her plans for Macy. She's done turning the other cheek and trying to be understanding.
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MissJr
Lounging on the Deck
Brooke IS the Bold & the Beautiful!
Posts: 14,065
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Post by MissJr on Jul 15, 2009 21:23:49 GMT -5
“Ladies, what in the world is going on here?” A chagrined Eric asked with a cup of coffee in his hand. “I can hear both of you halfway down the hall!” He chided Taylor and Kristen, who were at turns startled and embarrassed. “So can I,” Dr. Sussman co-signed as he struggled to keep his irritation in check. “Ladies, please be mindful that this is a hospital—not a barnyard! Now, if you will excuse me, I need to check on my patient.” Dr. Sussman curtly said as he made his way to Stephanie’s room. “I’ll join you, doctor,” Eric said. He then glanced at his daughter and daughter-in-law, giving them a look that spoke volumes. “I swear if something happened to upset Stephanie …” “I’m sorry, Mr. Forrester,” Dr. Sussman began, “but if you don’t mind, I would like to examine your wife alone and I want to find out from the nurse exactly what happened.” “By all means,” Eric nodded in an authoritative manner. “You do what you need to do. Meanwhile, I’ll deal with this disturbance myself.” … While Dr. Benjamin Sussman kept his temper in check, Storm had no such qualms. He ran his fingers through his hair and briefly stared in wild-eyed disbelief at his sister. She was like a woman obsessed! He thought. The famous Logan temper then took over and he exploded. “Damn it, Brooke! Haven’t we been over this enough already?” Storm angrily demanded. “What are you doing snooping around in Taylor’s private life? And, so what if she’s been using an alias all these years? What concern is it of yours?!” Brooke was taken aback by her brother’s tone. However, she was no shrinking violet and refused to be cowed. “Snooping around in Taylor’s private life? Are you serious?” She asked with her hands on her hips. “First of all, you need to get your facts straight. For your information, I wasn’t snooping around in Taylor’s life. I inadvertently came upon this little nugget when I received a letter in response to my grievance about your former fiancée’s unethical medical practices. And, guess what? Somebody finally doesn’t think I’m the crazy one for questioning Taylor’s methods. They’re going to pursue my complaint! I told you just the other day that the woman would regret the day she messed with me. It’s high time that that quack’s self-serving practices be brought to the attention of the proper authorities. She has used her so-called training to psychologically damage me for the last time.” Storm loudly exhaled. “Brooke, do you hear yourself? My God! What is it with this need for revenge? Do you realize that Taylor can lose her license, her reputation—why, her very ability to practice medicine?” Brooke laughed shortly, scarcely believing her ears. “Storm, when a member of your profession is consistently unethical, misuses client funds, or engages in crimes or other acts of moral turpitude, aren’t they reported to the bar association? Aren’t they then investigated and if the bar determines they are unfit, don’t they face some kind of sanctions, including disbarment? Well, how is this any different?” Brooke demanded, her voice beginning to rise. “Good grief! I can’t believe you would sit here and defend this woman after what she’s done! Now, if Taylor loses her license, she has no one to blame but herself. As far as I’m concerned, her brand of quackery is dangerous and it’s high time she was called on it!” Storm sighed deeply. “Brooke, please don’t misunderstand. This isn’t about defending Taylor. Believe it or not, I’m actually more concerned about you. You have so much more to concern yourself with right now and I just don’t want you to lose sight of what’s really important here. It just infuriates me that you’ve become so consumed by your anger toward her, Ridge and Eric.” Storm said quietly. “And, in answer to your question, yes, if Taylor has done something that warrants her being disciplined by the proper regulatory agencies and licensing authorities, then so be it. I would support you 100 percent in that endeavor. ” “Well, I’m glad to see that we agree on something when it comes to that quack!” Brooke snapped, causing Storm to roll his eyes in exasperation. “Normally, it wouldn’t bug me that she’s been using an alias for years. But, it’s just one more little lie—one more little secret and you best believe no one will call her on it. Meanwhile, I can’t even use the restroom without idiots speculating that I’m up to no good!” Storm found himself chuckling in spite of himself. “Okay, I concede that the alias is a surprise—a big one. Taylor never mentioned it to me, but as I said, we never really had any deep discussions about her background. Now, let’s just leave it alone, okay? Let the investigation into her professional practices play itself out. If it turns out that she grievously harmed you—and Thorne of course—then she should suffer the consequences. Meanwhile, whatever the truth is about her background and history, I’m sure it’s not nearly as bad as it seems on the surface.” Brooke nodded in agreement, willing to call a truce—for now. Why battle her own brother over this worthless twit? She asked herself. Besides, what could “the sainted one” possibly have done to cause the Earth to fall off its axis? However, neither Storm nor Brooke had any way of knowing that the truth about Taylor would cause several people, including those they held dear, to fall off their respective “axis.” _______________ “Mr. Forrester, we were very intrigued by your phone call.” Detective Blair noted. “I’m going to ask you something, and I want you to think carefully before you respond,” she cautioned Ridge as she did everything she could to conceal her distaste for the man. “Sure,” Ridge carelessly shrugged. “Anything you want to know, detective.” Don’t you people have anything better to do than to lay up and have sex at work? She was tempted to ask. Instead, Detective Blair kept it strictly professional by inquiring, “What makes you believe that your mother is ready to identify her attacker?” Ridge’s eyes darkened and he picked up a nearby pen and began to fiddle with it. “Well, let me start by saying that my wife and mother have a very, um, special relationship. Sometimes they speak in what I call, code, and they’ve done it around me long enough that I can figure out exactly what they’re trying to say.” “Go on,” an intrigued Detective Moretti said. “When they speak in code, they somehow end up revealing a lot more than if they had just been candid. I love my mother, but she can be …” Ridge paused uncomfortably. “Well, let’s just say that she has her moments. When she and Taylor get started on … well, let me tell you what happened, and you can judge for yourselves if I’m right,” Ridge said. He then briefly recounted the conversation he, Stephanie and Taylor engaged in inside of Stephanie’s hospital room. "Mother, I'm curious about something. Why did you stop at Forrester Creations at that time of night? Couldn't it have waited until morning?" Ridge had asked. Taylor had shifted in her chair and looked uncomfortable. "Ridge, maybe this isn't the time to press your mother about what happened." She said. "I'm sure I was there for a good reason." Stephanie glibly stated. "Why else would I have gone to the office so late?" "It wasn't because of anything I said, was it?" Taylor asked, as she gently held Stephanie's hand. Taylor and Stephanie's eyes met in mutual understanding. "No, honey, this is NOT your fault. Not at all! But, I can tell you one thing. She's going to pay for this!" Stephanie vowed vehemently. "She? She, who?" Ridge asked, only to be greeted by cricket-chirping silence. "Well, Mother?" Ridge pressed. "What SHE are you referring to, and what could Taylor have possibly said to you that would make you go into the office?" "Ridge, I think you're hearing things," Stephanie pooh-poohed, as she gave Taylor a conspiratorial wink. "I know what I heard," Ridge insisted. "Taylor?" Ridge eyed his wife inquiringly. Taylor merely shrugged. "Ridge, I don't know why you are pressing your mother like this. This is the first time we’ve talked to her since she was admitted, and you want to play detective." Taylor said. Ridge, however, refused to be dissuaded. "Taylor, I distinctly heard Mother say that 'she' was going to pay. I just can't let it go." Stephanie had pretended to tire and gave a fake yawn. "I think I want to take a nap now." She mumbled. Ridge sat on the edge of his mother's bed and held her hand. "Mother, please. This is important. If you know who did this, please speak up! Why would someone want to kill you?" He pleaded. "Ridge, stop it," Taylor said sharply. "Don't you see you're upsetting your mother?" Stephanie, not missing her cue, moaned. "Ohhhhhhh ... Ohhhhhhh ... " She groaned. "I'm sorry, son, but I guess I'm a lot more tired than I thought I would be." Stephanie leaned back on her pillow and, with trembling hands, weakly reached for the pitcher of ice water on her bedside tray. Ridge, feeling guilty and stung by Taylor's rebuke, immediately jumped up to help. He poured the water in a cup and gingerly held his mother's head while she took small sips. "Is that better?" He asked softly. "Yes, honey, much better." Stephanie took a few more sips and settled back into her pillow. "Mother, I'm sorry if I upset you earlier. It's just that I don't like the idea of some killer running around out there. I thought that maybe if you saw the person or recognized him ..." His voice trailed off. "Honey, I know you're worried and I appreciate it. Now, if I really knew who did this don't you think that I would speak up?" "Of course, you would, Mother. I just thought maybe it was someone you might have recognized or that maybe you could give the police some kind of description." "I wish I could, Ridge. Unfortunately, my memory is a bit fuzzy and I only recall things in bits and pieces." "What do you recall?" "I just keep seeing these flashes and then a gun goes off." Stephanie replied. "Well, what about this 'she' you were referring to?" "Ridge, please." Taylor warned. She thought it best to leave before too much more was said. "Maybe we better go now so that Stephanie can get her rest." Stephanie yawned and grimaced in pain. "You two made me so happy coming here, but I think Taylor is right. Come and give me a kiss and then maybe you can come back later this afternoon. Maybe by then your father and I will have spoken to the specialist." Stephanie suggested. She gingerly held out her arms and hugged both Ridge and Taylor in turn, as they kissed her cheek. "I love you, Mother," Ridge said in a voice choked with tears. "Taylor and I will be here as long as you need us to stay." "Thank you, honey, and I love you, too." When Taylor and Stephanie embraced, the two women's eyes met in understanding. "I love you, and I won't be far away," Taylor promised. "I love you, too." Stephanie said, as she held Taylor close. "Thank you," she whispered in Taylor's ear. "Don't worry—none of this was your doing. Just don't let that tramp win." _______________
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Post by GIOVANNA on Jul 16, 2009 16:51:33 GMT -5
So, Hag and Taylor talk in code? WTH?
I am confused about their little exchange. However, just what does Ridge think he is doing? Their comments prove nothing other than they are hiding something.
I am interested in the two cops' reaction to Ridge's comments. Blair's take on things always amuses me. She seems to be one of the few characters who has a brain.
I am dying to know what secrets Hag has. Considering how depraved and evil she is, they are probably pretty sordid. Of course she will excuse her crap of doing it for her family, or doing it for Ridge. Good look to anyone trying to get her to tell the truth.
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MissJr
Lounging on the Deck
Brooke IS the Bold & the Beautiful!
Posts: 14,065
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Post by MissJr on Jul 19, 2009 19:36:20 GMT -5
So, Hag and Taylor talk in code? WTH?
I am confused about their little exchange. However, just what does Ridge think he is doing? Their comments prove nothing other than they are hiding something.
I am interested in the two cops' reaction to Ridge's comments. Blair's take on things always amuses me. She seems to be one of the few characters who has a brain.
I am dying to know what secrets Hag has. Considering how depraved and evil she is, they are probably pretty sordid. Of course she will excuse her crap of doing it for her family, or doing it for Ridge. Good look to anyone trying to get her to tell the truth. Poor Ridge ... bless him! He's a twit, an idiot and a hoe, but he means well. He's been around his mother and wife long enough to know full well that they can be quite blunt about Brooke. Their comments definitely prove they are hiding something, but it's amazing how someone can overhear something and run away with it. Hopefully, Fang won't pass on before her sordid secrets are finally revealed.
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MissJr
Lounging on the Deck
Brooke IS the Bold & the Beautiful!
Posts: 14,065
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Post by MissJr on Jul 20, 2009 21:23:54 GMT -5
The executive conference room of Barnett, Williams & Haig was abuzz with excitement and bustled with activity. Gathered in this room, were 30 of the country’s movers and shakers—men whose actions impacted the lives of millions. Their influence over the nation’s leaders, including the governor of California, as well as the president of the United States and Congress, was unparalleled. Impeccably groomed in power suits, they were a bipartisan mix of politicians, lobbyists, lawyers, financiers and policy consultants. At the moment, the meeting’s attendees were being served hors d’oeurves, which were elegantly arranged on the sideboard, by the firm’s catering staff: a crudités tray with dipping sauce; imported cheeses and carved fruit; smoked salmon canapés; balsamic scented vegetable skewers; brie and raspberry bundles; and assorted pastries. A coffee and tea service had also been set up on another sideboard, along with fresh juice and water. As the men ate, they engaged in small talk about their latest business deals, legislative victories or setbacks, and the acquisition of toys—cars, boats, airplanes and other trophies of power. Each man was carefully selected as potential political appointees to fill various vacancies in the federal agencies. Each had been tapped as possible candidates for political office. The lone woman in the room, Mary Cutler, spoke quietly with Senator Harlan McDougall. Attractive, with a sassy haircut and shapely figure, Mary skillfully worked the room with Harlan. Her handshake was firm and she had a steady gaze. Before the meeting, she made it her business to educate herself about each attendee, learning something about him that was personal and dear to his heart. As a result, she was able to appear interested and passionate about the subject matter and had a way of making each man feel as if he was the most important person in the room. Mary was a longtime political operative who had been tasked by Harlan with guiding the men selected for political appointments through a grueling Senate confirmation process, which could take months. However, Mary was more than up to the task, having pulled off this extremely difficult feat for at least one Supreme Court nominee without a hitch. She was feared and revered for her toughness and political savvy in negotiating the corridors of Capitol Hill. Her reputation was significantly bolstered by the performance of previous political appointments from their selection to confirmation. Eventually, everyone made their way to their seats so that they could get down to business. Once everyone was seated, Harlan called the meeting to order by gently tapping his spoon against his glass. “Gentlemen—and Mary, of course—let me first start by thankin’ you all for accomodatin’ the changes in my schedule on such short notice. As you all know, we have a lot of work ahead of us in the comin’ months. You’ve all been chosen because you’re the best at what you do. You’ve also expressed an interest in public service and I think you will be excellent candidates. And, let’s face it. Power is a mighty powerful drug, and I know that each of you crave it! You’ll have the power to take this country and shape it in any way you like. But, we have to be smart and strategic about how we’ll accomplish getting you appointed to positions of power, and getting you elected to office. Now I’m gon’ sit down and let Mary here explain what we’re tryin' to do.” With that, Harlan pulled Mary’s chair out for her, and she stood. She now had the attention of every man in the room. As she spoke, she dimmed the lights and turned on her laptop, which featured a PowerPoint presentation. Mary’s presentation also included various video clips, including one where Trent testified before Congress the previous year. “Now, I know that it’s a lot for you all to think about,” Mary said. “But, there is absolutely no reason why any man in this room shouldn’t be able to run for office in the next 2-3 years. You don’t have to give me and Harlan an answer today. I would prefer that you think about it. Now, I understand that we have some lobbyists in the room. As you know, there has been increasing public scrutiny on your activities recently. However, I don’t think this will be a problem for anyone in this room. After all, none of you are unethical or consort with members of Congress on a quid pro quo basis, do you?” Mary softly asked to a chorus of nervous chuckles. Mary then explained in detail how, with time, the conference attendees would be poised to “take over” the Hill and put their own stamp on legislation and policy. She then addressed each attendee and carefully explained his role—provided he was willing to climb onboard the train of course. Harlan proudly watched his protégé work her magic and was happy to note that she had each man eating out the palm of her hand. Because Trent’s previous law firm represented Internet, startup and technology organizations before the federal government, Mary and Harlan felt that Trent should be their point man in lobbying Congress on behalf of Internet service providers, as well as consumer groups, regarding what would later be called the net neutrality debate. Ever ambitious, Trent readily agreed. Although he was impressed with Mary’s acumen and reputation, Trent held off on fully committing himself to a political appointment or elected office, adopting a wait and see attitude. For the briefest of moments, he found himself thinking about Brooke and idly wondered how she would fit into any such plans. Just as quickly, Trent chided himself for his flight of fancy. He looked at his left hand and reminded himself that he was no longer married or otherwise committed to anyone. Besides, with her own business, two teenagers, and a host of other problems, Brooke Logan would have little, if any, time or inclination to take a backseat to his career aspirations, Trent told himself. _______________
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