Michelle Bradley was wearing a cheap bathrobe and sitting on top of an ugly yellow, orange and brown bedspread – a throwback from the seventies – that covered the lumpy mattress. She had woken up an hour ago in order to make a phone call and immediately fell back to sleep next to an incredibly handsome man. In all truth, she knew that Mateo's physique wasn't the only reason that she was in that bed. There was another. And although she was often passed over as being completely naive, Michelle had long since suspected Mateo's reasons for wanting to be lying next to her.
Late last night – or early morning to be exact – after the two had spent the last remaining energy they had left and collapsed on the bed in the daze of post-sex bliss, Mateo casually asked her to do him a 'favor'. Michelle knew that he truly believed that she wouldn't over-think the issue, but in fact, it revealed an insight into his motives for being in this dive of a motel. Nevertheless, she did as she was asked the moment she woke up that morning without second guessing it; an action she applauded herself for later, when she saw what was lying on that ugly bedspread.
Michelle sat there, speechless. In front of her was an extraordinarily exquisite diamond bracelet that she knew – without a doubt – must have cost more than a few months worth of her wages at the hospital. And as naive as she was thought to be, she knew the bracelet must have accompanied them on their 'date' last night. Whether she was being bought, or rewarded, it didn't really matter to her. She was going to keep her mouth shut and enjoy a moment that she had previously only ever dreamed of having.
Mateo placed the diamonds around the stunned nurse's wrist and carefully fastened the clasp. "I hope you like it," he said in a smooth voice. "The first of many beautiful things for such a beautiful woman."
"I... It's..." Michelle stuttered. "I don't even know how to..."
"No need, your expression says it all."
"I've never owned anything so... so..."
"That's a shame, really." Mateo slid next to her on the bed and pulled her down with him, holding her close. "Expensive jewelry suits you rather well."
The young blonde could only blush in response.
"So..." Mateo continued as he brushed long, golden strands of hair over Michelle's shoulder. "You were able to make that phone call, yes?"
The woman rolled towards him. "Yeah, I did it while you were still sleeping."
Mateo tried not to sound too pleased with having everything fall into place in his mischievous plan. "And how did it go?" he asked.
"Um... I guess it went well. I mean, I said everything you told me to say."
"Excellent." Mateo leaned closer and showed his appreciation in small kisses along her sensitive neck.
"But... " she hesitated. "No matter who I pretended to be, it won't be very long until they realize that what I said it isn't true."
"Well, we don't actually know for certain that it isn't true. I just want to make sure that the coroner rules out any other causes of death. My father was a very wealthy man, Michelle. That means he could have been a target for foul-play. If you were me, wouldn't you want to know exactly what happened?"
"I guess," Michelle answered. "But just so that you know, the toxicology screening won't be a priority on the list for an older man who has died of an apparent natural cause. Even if I just ordered one, it won't be done right away... not without police involvement."
"Then perhaps the police should get involved."
"How are you going to manage that?"
Mateo brushed light fingertips down her bare arm, from her shoulder to her bejeweled wrist. "I supposed I would need help with that."
Michelle suddenly pushed back slightly. "Look, using the Chief of Staff's name and ordering an unnecessary tox screen is one thing, but –"
"You wouldn't be doing anything wrong," the scheming man interrupted. "You'd only be speeding up the process. If there is a chance that my father's death wasn't due to natural causes, we'd be doing the police a favor by finding that out sooner, am I right?"
Michelle didn't look convinced. "So you really believe that someone murdered your father?"
Not at all, but all I need is a suspicion of guilt... the media will do the rest, he thought to himself.
"My father was about to make a decision about a major business deal... one that had the potential to make some people very wealthy, and other'... well... not as wealthy as they would like. He died right before announcing that decision."
"So... all of this is just to see if anyone did anything to stop a decision from being made..." Michelle calculated.
"Exactly. And an anonymous tip to the police regarding information into the death of Antonio Rivera... well, that would get the ball rolling with the blood tests, wouldn't it?"
Michelle nodded.
"You'll help me out, then?"
She paused briefly but ended up nodding her consent. Mateo wrapped her in his arms. She wrapped hers around his neck, and focused her gaze on the wrist that was behind his left shoulder.
The moment the sunlight shone through one of the diamonds, she made the made the choice to let the bright light blind her better judgment.
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Olivia was throwing clothing and souvenirs into the suitcases on her bed – creating quite a large mountain of disarray – when she heard insistent knocking at the door. Instinctively knowing who would be on the other side, she opened it and confirmed her assumption with a deep sigh.
"Wow. So bad news travels even faster than good, I see," she said as she turned on her heels without welcoming the man in from the hallway.
Andrew had rushed to Olivia's suite the moment Greg informed him of her rash decision. As her financial adviser, Andrew had some urgent business advice to give. As a long-time friend, however, Andrew had a few choice words for Olivia; words which not too many employees could get away with saying and still manage to see another workday.
He said nothing as he entered the hotel room and closed the door, nor as he followed the blonde to her bedroom, where he witnessed a chaotic cat-fight with a carry-on.
Olivia pulled on the uncooperative zipper of the smaller bag until she heard one of its teeth snap off, thus ending the battle. She threw the case on the bed, turned to face Andrew, and took a deep breath; willing herself to calm down slightly.
"I'm not crazy," she said as evenly as possible.
"A professional second opinion may be required," Andrew answered.
"I know what I'm doing. I have everything under control."
"Throwing away the opportunity for a multi-million dollar merger with one of the world's leading luxury hotel brands? Yes, a completely sane entrepreneurial tactic if I ever saw one."
Olivia shrugged off the sarcasm and moved to the closet once again. "See... the keyword there was 'opportunity'. There isn't such a thing with this deal, so it doesn't matter anymore, does it?"
"What are you talking about?"
The defeated woman leaned her forehead against the closet doorframe. "What was I even thinking, Andrew? What is the Beacon compared to the Empire?" She slid the closet door closed and moved over to the vanity table. With one pass she swept most of her makeup into a cosmetics bag. "Why would the Empire need us?" she asked quietly as she paused to look in the mirror for a moment. "It doesn't," Olivia said with helplessness in her voice. She finished at the vanity and walked past Andrew. "She doesn't need me!"
The tall man hesitated as he tried to take in what Olivia had just said, then followed her to the bathroom. He leaned against the doorframe and folded his arms. "Okay... How, exactly, do you propose we break the news to the shareholders that you're trashing this mega deal because the new owner of the Empire doesn't want to be your girlfriend?"
Olivia slammed a cabinet door and spun around to face him. "This has nothing to do with that!" She tried her best to sound indignant, though she knew there was some truth behind the accusation.
"You've been able to seduce many into helping advance your various schemes and dreams. You tried your luck with a girl this time and failed. So now you're quitting?"
The comment caused an instant rush of heat to the angry woman's cheeks. Olivia walked towards Andrew and stopped within inches from him.
"I'm going to pretend that you didn't just call me a whore," she said slowly; her gaze burned into his.
"Your bedroom eyes didn't get you very far... big deal... come up with a more feasible game plan!"
"You're an asshole!"
"Whatever happened with Natalia, it is over. And now you're gonna sulk like a broken-hearted teenager?"
"Get out of my way!"
"You're taking your company down with you." Andrew knew he was being harsh but he needed Olivia to admit the truth behind her actions – for her sake more than his own.
Olivia pushed her way out of the bathroom. "She doesn't need this, Andrew!" she said bitterly as she headed for the living-room. Again, Andrew pursued her.
"And what is 'this', exactly?" he asked.
Olivia flopped down on the couch. "The merger... the Beacon... everything! She's just lost her father. This is all too much for her right now."
"That sounds like an excellent reason to postpone a business deal, NOT pull it away completely."
"I've made my decision."
"Because of a girl!" Andrew said, exasperatedly. "God, Olivia, I've done some stupid things for women, but this trumps ALL of them."
"It just isn't going to happen." Olivia slouched back into the couch.
"What are we talking about now? The merger of the hotels? Or sex with Natalia?"
Olivia glared at her friend. "Fuck you!"
"If I'm still your type, sure... why not?"
Olivia pinched the bridge of her nose. "You can let yourself out. I'm finished discussing this." She folded her arms and stared at the coffee-table in front of her.
Andrew could see that he wouldn't be able to talk any sense into her.
"Letting go of the merger so that Natalia has less to worry about right now... that's a twistedly valiant – though incredibly stupid – thing to do."
"Thanks... I think."
"Leaving LA so that she can forget about what's happening between the two of you, however... not as fool-proof an idea as you may think."
Olivia didn't respond.
"It takes a lot more than just distance to get over Olivia Spencer." He made his way to the door. "Trust me... I would know."
When Andrew had left, Olivia slumped forward and rubbed her temples, trying to block out what he had said.
You just have to get through the funeral, and say goodbye. It will all be over soon.
