“Brandon, don’t! ” Nicole laughed nervously, shielding herself as her brother lunged toward her with the water gun. “Come on, Nicky. I’m just trying to cool you off.
If you don’t like it, I could always throw you in, instead. ”
“No, you are not throwing me in the pool. ”
“Come on. We’re living the high life now.
We’ve got our own private paradise. Might as well enjoy it, right? ” Brandon grinned. “You enjoy it your way, and I’ll enjoy it mine,” Nicole shot back.
“Your loss. ”
Before Brandon could respond, Henderson, the butler, appeared at the edge of the terrace. “Mrs. Roberts, Mr.
Roberts just called. His attendance is required at an important business meeting. He’d like you to look after young Will this afternoon. ”
Nicole blinked.
“What? Me? What about the nanny? ”
“She took Philip to the zoo.
”
“Okay, well, then what about you? ”
“I’m the butler, ma’am, not the babysitter. Besides, I have errands to run for Mrs. Roberts.
”
“Of course you do. ” Nicole sighed. Brandon raised an eyebrow. “Is there a problem?
”
“Yeah, there’s a problem. I’m stuck with Will the entire afternoon. ”
A voice cut through from behind them. “That doesn’t sound like the loving stepmother you claim to be, Nicole, or is that all part of your phony act to fool the judge into giving Lucas custody of my son?
”
Nicole spun around. Sami stood there, arms crossed, wearing a look of pure contempt. Nicole’s stomach dropped. “What are you doing here, Sami?
”
“I came to see my son, of course. You and Lucas may have finagled your way into sole custody, but he is still my son. ”
“We’ve certainly never disputed that. He’s with Lucas right now.
”
“So I heard. I also heard what you had to say about being— now how exactly did you put that? *Stuck with Will for the entire afternoon? * I suppose that loving stepmom routine flew right out the window the second you stepped off that witness stand at the custody hearing, huh?
”
“That is not true. I love that little boy. ”
“Oh, cut the bull. I know you don’t give a damn about forming a bond with my son.
This entire arrangement is a big scam. ”
“You are totally out of line, Sami. ”
“How did Lucas force you into marrying him? Did he have to put a gun to your head?
”
“Oh, stop it. You are wrong about this. ”
“I don’t think so, but I will tell you this. You and your husband are not going to get away with stealing my son.
”
Brandon stepped forward. “Ladies, ladies. ”
Sami stared at him. “Who the hell is he?
”
“Brandon’s my brother,” Nicole said. Sami let out a bitter laugh. “You’ve got to be kidding. ”
“No, I’m not kidding.
I have a wonderful brother just like you do. ”
Sami’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, you do remember my brother. See, that surprises me, after the way you dumped him like yesterday’s garbage to marry this pillar of the community, Lucas Roberts.
”
“It wasn’t like that. ”
“Then tell me how it was, because I don’t understand how you can claim to love someone and want to spend the rest of your life with him, only to turn up married to somebody else. I thought I knew you, Nicole. In fact, I thought we were friends, or have you forgotten that, too?
”
Nicole’s voice softened. “Of course I haven’t. ”
“Eric and I were the ones who gave you your big break. You would still be waiting tables at Java Cafe if it weren’t for us.
”
“I know that, and I am truly grateful to you. ”
“Really? That’s how you show your gratitude? By joining forces with the devil to take my son away from me?
By breaking my brother’s heart? I can’t believe you could do that. How could you be so cruel to the two people who have done everything for you, two people who are supposed to be your best friends? ”
Nicole’s jaw tightened.
“Look, Sami, I am sorry if I hurt Eric… and I know that it must be difficult for you to be separated from your little boy, but I do know that Lucas offered to split custody with you 50/50. ”
“And you think I should jump at that? Lucas shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near my son. ”
“Why don’t you give the guy a break, or have you totally forgotten what he’s done for you?
Lucas confessed to a murder that he didn’t commit to save you, Sami. ”
“Oh, and I don’t believe that for one second, but I will find out why he confessed if it’s the last thing I do. ”
“If you want to waste your time. ”
“Well, you sure haven’t wasted yours, have you?
Wasn’t too long ago that you didn’t have two nickels to rub together, but now look at you— servants coming out of your ears, limos… Is that what convinced you to turn on your friends? Is that how Kate and Lucas lured you into this marriage, by promising you all the money you can dream of? ”
“Oh, that’s absurd. ”
“I’m just sorry that Eric and I didn’t see through you sooner.
You’re nothing but a common gold digger. ”
“I don’t have to stand here and take this from you in my own home. ”
“You’ve paid one hell of a price to call this mansion home, haven’t you, Nicole? ”
“I’ve heard enough.
Now, I’m going to go upstairs and change, and when I get back, I want you gone. ”
“You can’t get rid of me that easily, Nicole. I’m not going to let Kate and Lucas get away with taking my son. I know that they forced you into this marriage, and I’m going to prove it.
I’m going to win, I promise. ”
Brandon’s grin was slow and easy. “Well, you got so much fire in you, you could light up half of Salem. Don’t get me wrong.
I like that in a woman. ”
Sami turned to him, momentarily thrown. Then her eyes hardened again. —
Meanwhile, across town, Ali McIntyre beamed as she hung up the phone.
“What’s with this ‘we’ business, Craig? ” she asked her lawyer, who had been calling her his partner in success. He was about to answer when the phone rang again. “University Hospital.
This is Ali McIntyre. Yes, yes, I’m very interested. Great. Great.
I really look forward to hearing back from you. Thanks. ”
She hung up and gasped. “Oh, my goodness.
I’m going to be a star. ”
“What are you talking about? Wait. Who was that?
” Craig asked. “*Dateline*. They want to do a feature story on me and the case. ”
“Well, hey, Ali, the more publicity, the better for you.
That’s great. ”
“People are really listening to me, Craig. They want to hear what I have to say. ”
“You bet they do.
”
“You know what? I’m going to be a crusader for the entire population, standing up for women everywhere, standing up for women who have been taken advantage of, especially women in the workplace. ”
“That’s right. You go.
”
“I mean, who knows? Someone might even want to make a movie about my life. By the time I’m finished, everyone’s going to know who Ali McIntyre is and what she stands for. ”
Craig’s partner Nancy, watching from the doorway, frowned.
“Craig, what’s up with her? ”
“She’s just capitalizing on her newfound fame, that’s all. Only I don’t think Ali’s going to settle for the standard 15 minutes. ”
“I don’t like it.
I just don’t like it. ”
“Now, don’t worry, sweetheart. Look at her. She’s in her glory.
All her life, Ali has yearned to feel important, to be someone. Now she is. All she ever needed was a little attention, and now she’s getting it. It’s obviously something she never got from that bitch who calls herself a mother.
”
“Oh, but she could still go off the deep end. Craig, you said yourself she’s unpredictable. ”
“No, listen, Nancy. She’s lucid now.
She’s in control. She aced that psych exam. She acted brilliantly as the victim in front of the press, and if she can keep up this act for the jury, Mike Horton is going to be buried alive. We are home.
”
“But what if something goes wrong? ”
“Nancy, no negative thoughts, sweetheart. Before you know it, Mike Horton is going to be ousted as chief of staff, and I’m going to step right in. Our dreams are going to come true, sweetheart.
We are going to get everything we want. Everything. ”
Ali, oblivious, was already dialing again. “Yes, Mr.
Simon, I know I could bring in a big audience for ‘Oprah. ’ I mean, after all, sexual harassment is a real hot-button issue these days. ” She swiveled in her chair, glowing. “I’m thinking of hiring one of those image consultants.
You know, like the one who gave Monica Lewinsky her whole new look. I need a change, don’t you think? I mean, especially since I’m going to be in the public eye so much. ”
“I like the idea.
After all, you have to look good for the cameras, right? ” Craig said. “Exactly. Okay, I’m going to update my wardrobe, get a new do.
Guys, this is so exciting. ”
“Listen, Ali, I know it’s exciting for you and everything, but I want to make sure you keep your eye focused on the prize, okay? ”
“Okay. Not to worry.
I know exactly what I’m going for here, and I have every intention of getting it. ”
When she left the room, Craig turned to Nancy. “You see? Ali’s more determined to win now than ever.
”
“Maybe, but, Craig, I’m so worried about Carrie. She is going to be totally devastated when she learns the truth about Mike. ”
“You know, Nancy, one of the things I love about you is your genuine concern for others. I just hope it doesn’t outweigh your concern for us.
Now, listen, I am counting on Carrie’s heartbreak. It can only work to our advantage. Once she sees that Mike’s good-guy image is shattered, she’s not going to be willing to help him anymore. In fact, I’m willing to bet that she’ll leave him out in the cold without an ounce of defense or support.
”
—
Carrie Reed sat in her office, staring at a stack of files. “I know that Mike never slept with Ali. It’s just some fantasy that she’s dreamt up in her head, and I’ll have to find some way to discredit her. ”
“And how do you intend to do that?
” Nancy asked from the doorway. “Well, I’ve already ordered her personnel files from the other hospitals that she has worked for, and I’ll go as far back as college if I have to. ”
“Wait a second. Do you really think that’s necessary?
”
“Well, you know, Nancy, I don’t like to fight this way, but Ali has given me no choice, okay? Her credibility is what will make or break this case. ”
“So will Mike’s. ”
“I’m not worried about that, Nancy.
Mike is a person of integrity. His credibility is above reproach. ”
Her phone rang. “Carrie Reed.
”
“Hey, it’s me. ” Mike’s voice was heavy. “Kind of need to talk to you. Wondering if maybe you have a few minutes.
”
“Sure. I was just working on a strategy to deal with Ali’s ridiculous charges. Why don’t you come by my office? ”
“Uh, no.
Maybe someplace more private. The park? ”
“Fine. I’m on my way.
”
They met under the shade of a large oak. Carrie spread her hands. “Mike, I’m glad you called. I have some ideas that I want to run by you on how to discredit Ali.
”
“Hang on. I got something I got to talk to you about first. ”
“Sounds serious. ”
“It is.
I don’t know where to start. ”
“What is it? You’re scaring me. ”
Mike took a breath, looking at the ground.
“Look, um… back when I was dating Ali, when I first started dating Ali, it was right after we made a pact to not see each other. ”
“Right. I tried to recommit myself to my marriage to get past my feelings for you. ”
“Right, and I was determined, you know, to move on with my life, to get past my feelings for you.
”
“I know all this, Mike. ”
“Yeah, there’s more. Ali and I were dating. We had some good times together, and I really wanted to be attracted to her.
Okay, I was attracted to her, and we enjoyed each other’s company, and…”
“What are you trying to say, Mike? ”
“I slept with her. ”
Carrie went still. The word hung in the air.
“You actually took Ali to bed? ”
“I’m sorry. At the time, I didn’t think there was any hope for you and me, and I was trying to do what we agreed I should do. I was trying to move on.
”
“By sleeping with a woman you didn’t love? ”
“At the time, I thought there was the possibility that I could fall in love with her. I mean, we’d been dating for a while. ”
“But you never told me, Mike.
Why didn’t you tell me the truth? ”
“I didn’t want to hurt you. And then when the lawsuit came up, I know I should have said something, but I never thought it was going to go as far as it’s gone, and I just didn’t think you needed the pain. ”
“Mike, I could have dealt with this, but now that—“
“It only happened once, and immediately afterwards, I realized what a huge mistake I’d made, because you were the only woman that I could ever love.
So I ended things with Ali. ”
Carrie shook her head slowly. “All this time, I thought that Ali was delusional, fantasizing there was more to your relationship with her than there really was. But there was no fantasy, Mike.
She had every reason to think that you two had a serious relationship. ”
“*No*. I never led her on. ”
“You slept with her, Mike.
I understand now why Ali feels rejected. She has every reason to. ”
“No, no, wait. What are you doing?
” Mike reached for her as she stood up. “I feel like a fool for accusing Ali of living in a dream world, Mike. You put her there. ”
“No!
That’s not the way it happened. Come on. You cannot believe what Ali’s saying about me. Sexual harassment is ludicrous.
I didn’t even know she was on the list of candidates for head nurse when we slept together. Carrie, I did not do what Ali is accusing me of. I couldn’t do that. You still believe me, don’t you?
”
Carrie looked at him, her eyes filled with something he couldn’t read. She didn’t answer. —
Meanwhile, in Hawaii, the ocean was still raging when Marlena dragged her husband’s body onto the shore. “John!
Oh, God, please! John! Please, God! John!
” She pressed her hands against his chest, crying, begging. Then she felt it— a faint pulse. “Yes! Yes!
Yes! I’ve got you. I’ve got you. ”
She screamed for help until two strangers appeared and carried him to a truck.
At the hospital, Dr. Evans found her in the hallway, her face pale and streaked with tears. “Doctor, how’s my husband? ”
“Well, he sustained a great deal of injuries, and he’s lost a good deal of blood, but we’ve managed to stabilize him.
He’s still unconscious, but his prognosis looks good. He’s responding well to the treatment. ”
“He’s going to be all right. ”
“He’s a very lucky man.
I don’t know how he survived. ”
Bo Brady stepped forward. “Yeah, hey, Doc, how is it possible for a man to not only survive a shark attack, but those stormy waters for so long? Can you explain that?
”
“Nothing short of a miracle. ”
When the doctor left, Bo’s face darkened. “It wasn’t a miracle. It was the work of Stefano DiMera.
When John wakes up, he’ll confirm it. He’ll tell us where he was and if Hope was with him. ”
Marlena barely heard him. She was already moving toward John’s room.
She sat beside him, holding his hand, stroking his forehead. “Oh, my precious love. I thought I’d lost you, but you came back to me. God answered my prayers.
” She noticed his bare finger. “Your wedding ring is gone. You must have lost it while you were at sea. Oh, I’m so lucky to have you back.
How could I have gone on without you? ”
John groaned, his eyes fluttering open. “John? John, it’s me.
I’m here. ”
“Where am I? What’s—“
“No, don’t try to talk. You’re going to be all right.
You’re in the hospital with me. ”
“With you? ”
“Yes, it’s Marlena. ”
“Marlena.
”
“Honey, it’s all right. We’re in Hawaii. You swam out to save some woman who was drowning, remember? ”
“Aren’t we supposed to… be on our honeymoon?
”
Marlena laughed through her tears. “Yes, we are. We’re still on our honeymoon, because you came back. Thank you, God.
”
—
Thousands of miles away, Stefano DiMera stood in a dim, windowless room, watching Gina pace. “Tell me what you’ve done with him,” she demanded. “John is no longer a concern of yours. You and I, we have other matters to take care of.
”
“Well, at least tell me that you have not hurt him. Just tell me that he’s okay, Stefano. Oh, dear God, no. John is not dead.
He’s not dead, is he? ”
“John’s life is in my hands now. I own him once again. ”
“Then he is still alive.
”
“If he is alive, he’ll never be yours, Gina. ”
Stefano turned away, his voice turning cold. “Oh, God. To think that I trusted you once.
Well… I’ll never make that mistake again. ”
“You’ve got it all wrong, Steffy. ”
“Shut up! You’ve lied to me for the last time.
I know why you were so determined. I understand that now. You wanted the old John back because you wanted him for your own selfish desires. Oh, my God.
Did you really think that you could get away with that? ”
“John was starting to remember his past. Even you conceded that you had absolutely no choice whatsoever but to bring him back as your pawn. ”
“*My* pawn.
That’s right, *my* pawn, not yours. It was not Marlena that was trying to make him remember all these months. It was you! You wanted him back, the old John, so that you could continue with that little lovefest you started before I sent him back to Salem to take over Roman Brady’s life.
”
“You have it all wrong. ”
“All wrong? ”
“I only wanted to bring John back to steal the last Rénét for you, Steffy. ”
“Don’t insult my intelligence.
It’s obvious what is going on here. Where were you going to take your lover, Gina? To some island hideaway? Huh?
The two of you. What a joke. Did you really believe that you could get away with it, that you could escape me? I created you and John, and I can turn you back into Hope Williams like that!
”
“Stefano, please, I cannot— I cannot go back to Salem. ”
“You’re damn right you can’t go back to Salem, because when I transformed you back into Gina, you had explicit instructions that everyone must buy the idea that you are Hope. But no. You had to defy me, huh?
Yes, Gina, you had to make a debacle of my entire plan. You put us all in danger because you did not give a damn about anything or anyone but yourself. You selfish little bitch. ”
“How dare you.
How dare you speak to me like that. Did you honestly expect me to have no other life and to just wait for those rare moments when you would make yourself available to me? ”
“I transformed you into Gina because I was hoping to re-create the glorious years that we spent in Europe together. ”
“But we could have that again, Steffy.
”
“Never mind this *Steffy*! Oh, God. ”
Gina’s voice softened, almost pleading. “I want to live as Gina again, get back to my old life.
”
“What life are you referring to, Gina? The life you spent with me or your life with John? ”
“We are talking about three different lives here— the life of the real Princess Gina, the life Hope Williams Brady led as Gina the first time, and the life that I am living right now. ”
“Stop stalling with your stupid little games.
”
“I’m trying to make sense of a very complicated situation, Stefano. When you turned Hope— me— into Gina the first time, I thought that John was dead. I had absolutely no recollection or any memory whatsoever of my life as Hope, and I most certainly didn’t know that you had turned John into Roman Brady. ”
“Does not make any difference now.
”
“Please, just let me finish and hear me out. When I thought that John was gone, I had no other choice but to bury my feelings for him. But this time, when you turned me back into Gina, you insisted that I stay in Salem, where I had to face all of those memories, and I had to deal with those feelings for John each and every day. They’re memories that you gave me, Steffy, and now you’re asking me to deny them?
”
“Those feelings do not belong to you. ”
“Don’t they? Even though I may never have experienced them, my God, I felt that I had. If you only knew how I longed to be with John and to feel his—“
“Stop it.
I don’t want to hear about it. ”
“The real Princess Gina never was your creation, never under your control. She always had a mind of her own, Steffy. ”
“I loved her, damn it.
Was I an idiot to think that she’d love me back? ”
“No. I know what my feelings are for you, Steffy. I know that they’re real.
”
“If I had known that John and Gina had an affair, I would never, never have recreated her in Hope. I would be forced to let Gina…“
“Let Gina what? Tell me the truth, Steffy. What happened to the real Princess Gina?
”
Stefano’s face hardened. He said nothing. Gina stepped closer, her voice trembling with urgency. “Stefano, John is no longer a threat to you.
There is no reason to hurt him. Please. I’ll do anything, whatever it takes. Don’t punish John for my own mistakes… because I will do anything, anything you want, Steffy.
”
He stared at her for a long moment. Then, slowly, the faintest smile touched his lips. “We will see what you’re willing to do, Gina.
”
