INSTALLMENT 42 
 
 



Falmont Enterprises:



     Nico stands outside Elizabeth's  office door, gathering his thoughts before
facing the "firing squad".  He's hoping for good news to offset the nasty 
beat-down by  Mitch .  He prays that Mitch isn't serious about 
kicking his ass but knowing Mitch, his ass is toast.  He didn't know that
 Katie Mitchell  was was Mitch's daughter and how could the bastard not 
recognize his own flesh and blood in the photos.  Shaking his head, he 
focuses his attention toward his boss. 

   "You wanted to see me?"  Nico asks leaning against the door, waiting
to be invited into her office.
   
   Elizabeth looks up from her laptop, "Yes, please come in and shut the
door."  She presses save and closes her laptop.  Her face is void of emotion
and serene.

   Nico closes the door and sits down across from her desk.  He isn't sure 
why she needed to see him but assumes it's just for another sparring
match.  He grins at the thought.

   "So what has you so determined to see me?  Are you going to apologize
for the way you treated me at O'leary's last time we met?"  Nico presses, "You
should know it's water under the bridge to me."

   Elizabeth stares at him, thinking to herself how wrong she was to hire him.  
This is the last time she'll ever hire someone due to guilty feelings, she thinks
to herself.

   "Don't flatter yourself."  Elizabeth snaps, then composes herself.  "As you 
are aware, the economy is on shaky ground right now.  Falmont Enterprises
hasn't been immune to that.  We have to make cuts in order to turn out a 
profit this quarter."  

   Nico stares at Elizabeth, trying to grasp how this affects him, "So what
does this have to do with me?"

   Elizabeth smiles, "I'm glad you asked." She hands him a document,  "One of 
the jobs we're cutting is our in-house photographer, which would be you."  
Elizabeth replies pointing her finger at him.

   Nico reads the document and a lightbulb flips on.  He stands up suddenly, his
face contorted with anger."Are you saying I'm fired?"  Nico leans forward untill his 
face is up against Elizabeth's. 

   Elizabeth nods, "Yes."  She looks at her watch briefly, "You have five 
minutes to exit the premises before I call security."

   Nico then sits back in his chair and smiles, "You don't have the guts to 
fire me.  Not with what I know about you."  

   Elizabeth knew this was going to happen, "Go right ahead and tell the 
world.  You have no power over me, especially, with your recent photo 
session with Katie Mitchell."  She notes his look of surprise.  "Yes, I'm well 
aware of your other career with Angel's Goodies.  As you recall, I did sneak 
a peek at your cell phone and then I used google search and found your dirty
secret.  You'll have plenty of time to explore that career, God help all the 
young girls of the world."

   Nico gets up, "What grounds do you have to fire me?  I can sue you for
wrongful termination!"  

   Elizabeth just laughs, "Go right ahead.  If you're stupid enough to do that,
I can point out that you've done absolutely no work for us in the last few
months.  I will just say that I was keeping you on in case an opportunity 
came our way.  You have no leg to stand on."  Elizabeth pauses, staring at 
her watch, "Your five minutes are ticking away as we speak.  I suggest you 
sign your release papers before I call security."

   Nico shakes his fist at Elizabeth and sneers, "You'll live to regret firing me,
 one way or another!"   

   Elizabeth nods, "Probably not as much as I regret hiring you.  It's a shame
because I thought you had such talent and you've wasted it."  She then
leans back in her chair, "Just sign the release forms and leave."

   Nico grabs the forms from her desk.  He angrily signs them
and then storms out of her office, vowing to make her pay. 



Foxy's



   Ever since his theapy session with  Dr.  Alfaro , Thomas  has been on pins 
and needles.  He can't explain why he acted so defensive in his first session.  
Granted, he only went because of what Jonathan  said to him, but still he hadn't 
expected to react that way.

   Sitting down at a booth, he pushes those thoughts out of his head
and concentrates on lunch.  Reaching for the menu, he catches sight of  Alicia  
entering.  Trying to not call attention to himself, he buries his nose 
in his menu.

   "Well, well small world running into you today.  I would think you were 
following me."  Alicia muses, taking a seat across from Thomas.

   "What do you want Alicia?"  Thomas asks, making an effort to be polite
but praying for her to go away.  

   "I was just coming to say hello to an old friend."  Alicia replies, noticing
the server placing a glass of water in front of both of them, "Oh, no need
for the water, I'm not staying.  I am just saying hello to someone."  She 
hands her water back to the server and he walks away confused.

   Thomas suddenly has an idea, "Why not stay and chat with me for a little
bit."  He can't believe he just blurted out that idea but figures it couldn't hurt
to discuss her brother.

   Alicia eyes him suspiciously, "Why do you want to talk to me?"

   Thomas takes a deep breath, "I recently went to therapy and it didn't go
well."  He pauses when he notices her instant reaction.

   "I'm so happy to hear that!  Is your new shrink making you realize that
you're the one responsible for my brother's suicide?"  Alicia asks, glee in her
voice.

   Thomas shakes his head, "I knew telling you was a bad idea.  I can't believe I 
have no trouble telling you I went to therapy but I couldn't tell the doctor 
anything.  Something really is wrong with me."  

   Alicia reaches her hand out with fake concern, "Don't worry about it, the
first step is admitting that something is wrong.  Is that all you 
wanted to tell me?"  

   Thomas gets up, "Forget it, I've lost my appetite.  Between you and me,
I think you're the one who seriously needs therapy.  I can't believe you feel
no guilt for your part in his suicide.  How can you even stand to look at 
yourself in the mirror?" 

   Alicia's smile fades and she slowly grits her teeth, "Because I didn't do 
anything wrong.  In fact, Luis told me so himself on the day he killed himself."

  Thomas ponders this, "I thought you weren't speaking to him when he 
killed himself?"  He notices Alicia shaking her head, "Yes, I recall you 
crying at his funeral and stating how you wished you could have spoken to him 
one last time.  Now you're saying you spoke to him on the day he killed 
himself."

   Alicia stands up abruptly and pushes past him, "I'm out of here.  You never fail to 
amaze me.  Trying to bring up something that is better left in the past. So
typical of you.  As always, a pleasure."

   Thomas stares after Alicia as she storms out of the diner.  He sits down in
the booth and waves the server over to take his order.  Something doesn't
seem right, he thinks to himself and looks at his menu.



Richardson Home:



   Gillian  unlocks the front door and pushes her way through the door with 
determination.  Looking around the house, she tries to think of the first
place her brother would be in.  Hearing music coming from upstairs, she 
guesses he's up in his room and charges upstairs.

   Coming upon his bedroom door, she pounds on it.  When no one
answers, she opens his door and invites herself inside.  

   Stephen looks up from his laptop and turns down his Ipod.  "Have you 
ever heard of knocking?"

   Gillian slams the door behind her, "Don't try to change the subject, I have
a bone to pick with you."  She makes her way to his bed, trying to push
aside his gym socks.

   Stephen turns around in his desk, just waiting to hear his sister's latest 
rant against him, "What did I do this time?"

   "Don't play stupid with me.  I know all about you and  Melinda's  hot and
heavy makeout session at O'leary's."  Gillian blurts out, chasting herself for 
not being more tactful.

   Stephen's expression changes to one of alarm, "How do you know about
that?  As I recall, you weren't around O'leary's that night."

   "So you admit it's true."  Gillian throws a pillow at her brother, "God, you
are such a guy!  To think I even defended you to Alicia."

   "You haven't answered my question, how did you find out about that?" He
proceeds before she can answer,  "A better question would be, have 
you told Alicia?"

   Gillian thinks long and hard about how to answer that.  Part of her wants 
to say yes, but the other part of her wants to keep Alicia out of this since 
she did promise to not make waves.  

   Thinking on her feet, she blurts out, " Bianca   told me.  You remember my
old boss from the real estate agency?  She happened to be at O'leary's that
night and mentioned it to me."  Gillian then makes a mental note to call 
Bianca.  

   Stephen nods, "I'll buy that."  he then opens up his laptop, "What about 
Alicia?  Does she know about this?"  He sees Gillian shaking her head with
a guilty look on her face, "I didn't mean to hurt Alicia.  That's why I've been 
laying low, to sort out my feelings."

   Gillian gets up, "I can't believe you are just like all the rest of them.  
Whatever you do, just make sure this time you make the right choice."  
She then turns and walks out of his bedroom breathing a sigh of relief at
Stephen buying her lie.   

   Stephen focuses back on his laptop.  He's pissed at Gillian for butting 
into his personal business again.  He prays that she doesn't make a slip and 
tell Alicia like she did the last time.  The last thing he needs is Alicia breathing
down his neck.  He prays that for once Gillian can keep her big mouth shut.



Nico Rawlin's Apartment      



   Nico slams his door shut.  He makes a beeline for his computer and turns it on.  
After the computer boots, he looks through his saved photos untill he comes across 
several images of Elizabeth.  

   Clicking through the lewd images he took of Elizabeth having sex with him, he prints 
them and puts them in a large business envelope.  He hadn't planned on 
using them against Elizabeth but her actions leave him with no choice.  Before he can 
address the envelope, his cell phone starts vibrating.  Taking a look at the 
caller ID, he takes a deep breath and answers.

   "Hello?"  

   "Nico, where the hell is my money?"  Gerald Mitchell yells through the 
cell phone, "Didn't I tell you I was going to beat your ass whether you returned
the money or not?  Now, you've really pissed me off Rawlins and I'm coming for 
you myself."

   Before Nico can respond, the line goes dead.  Putting his cell phone down,
he resumes addressing the envelope.  He thinks for a second about whether
he should address the envelope to George  or Lenore.  While the thought of
tarnishing Elizabeth's image with her father is appealing, he decides that her 
mother would be the best ticket for hurting Elizabeth.  After he finishes, he  
takes out a duffel bag and starts loading items into it.  No way is he
sticking around to get his ass handed to him.  He's getting the heck out of
Dodge.

   Taking the duffel bag with him, he exits his apartment and makes a run for
it.  In his other hand is the envelope addressed to Lenore Falmont.