This is the second collaberation between myself and Caren! I hope that everyone enjoys this as much as they did Knights In Paradise!
As always, I promise that I won't break my own rules about D&E!
Premeditated Temptations
Category: All of Pine Valley, Drama, Action, Mystery, Romance
- Set in present day PV. Only changes, Miranda is still believed to be dead. And the only people who know the truth are @#%$ and @#%$, but David has no clue. Zachs fundraiser at the Casino never occurred. Lesley will be played by Lesley AnnDown. Bobby Warner is now being played by Brian Gaskill.
Rating: PG-13 to R: Mostly PG-13 for language and violence. The R parts will be appropriately marked.
Summary: A Charity cruise, a game of murder, a game of temptation and seduction, and a boat with a suspicious and deadly past.
Chapter 1
This evening on the southern coast of New York was exceptionally beautiful. The night sky was clear and the stars were shining their brightest. There was a strange chill in the air and a light fog was rolling in, but it was still the perfect night for a cruise.
The boat they were set to spend the next four days on was a renovated 1860's river boat, conveniently named Tempted Fate. It was exquisitely beautiful from it's gilted ceilings and crystal chandeliers, to the marble floors of the huge dining room accented by two long and winding staircases that one might think came straight out of Gone With the Wind.
This was to be the biggest Charity event of the decade. She had been contacted by Bianca Montgomery a month earlier about organizing a fund raiser in Miranda Montgomery's honor, with all the proceeds going to the Miranda Montgomery Foundation.
Miranda had touched the lives of so many in her all too brief life. This was Bianca's way, and her foundation's way of honoring the precious little life that was taken from the world far too soon. Leslie hadn't known Miranda, of course, or Bianca Montgomery. But she knew from the television and newspaper coverage of the events surrounding Miranda's birth and death, the whole sad story. It was heartbreaking and she hoped that this event was a success...in more ways then one.
She had a weekend planned that no one in Pine Valley would ever forget, and she was sure that when they left the Tempted Fate their lives would never be the same again.
She was standing at the top of the ramp, watching intently as Pine Valley's most prominent citizens, and couples exited their limos. They were dressed casually, just as the invitations had requested. She watched as they all made their way towards the boat, some more anxious to board than others. The invitations were brief, and had said only that this would be a weekend they would never forget, and she could tell by the look on their respective faces that no one was sure what to expect. She couldn't help but smile at that.
She wasn't the least bit surprised that the first to the ramp was Erica Kane and her soon to be husband, Jackson Montgomery. They were a striking pair, there was no doubt of their love for each other...or was there? She had a knack for seeing past pretty facades, and theirs definitely was. There were cracks in their relationship and she could see them a mile away. It was going to be fun watching these two try and survive this weekend, and not just on their own, but as a couple.
Behind them was Erica's eldest daughter Kendall Hart and her current paramour, Ethan Cambias. This was a match made in hell. Kendall needed someone far more interesting and lively than Ethan Cambias. Kendall always struck her as a lively free spirit, who needed a man who loved the fieriness of her spirit, who would always support her. Ethan just didn't seem to be that man. She was going to have fun with these two.
Bianca and her escort and according to at least one tabloid her girlfriend Maggie Stone made their way up the ramp. Bianca was a beautiful young woman, and she seemed happy and content. But there was a sadness in her eyes, and she couldn't help but feel the need to make it all right again. Maggie didn't seem to be the one to bring the light back into her eyes. She was going to fix that if it was last thing she did.
David Hayward and @#%$ Carey were behind them. This pair made her stomach turn. What in God's name did such a handsome doctor see in common street trash like @#%$ Carey? She was so beneath him, she had to be a substitute for someone, a way to mend a broken heart. She had to wonder if he still missed his ex wife, or perhaps that other woman he had been with...or did it stem back to his losing Erica? Could his broken heart run that deep?
His daughter @#%$ Carey and her husband JR Chandler were next in line. They'd chosen to leave their little girl Elizabeth "Bess" at home. That was probably for the best. This cruise wasn't the place for a child. There was something about this pair, more particularly about @#%$ that she didn't like, she was hiding something...but what?
Ryan and Greenlee Lavery were the next couple to board the ship. She really didn't see the appeal of this couple. They were gorgeous apart, and striking together, but she didn't see the love, or feel the passion. Greenlees mother, Mary, accompanied them.
Aidan Devane and Anita Santos were next, walking hand in hand. They were wearing matching smiles, and seemed to be enjoying each other's company. But she saw through them instantly, there was no chemistry between them...no fire. They were far from in love. Aidan was smart, sweet, and handsome and he deserved someone...someone worthy of him, and this Anita wasn't the woman. She would make sure that this man found the love that he deserved, and she would stop at nothing to make it happen.
The rest of the guests, including Tad Martin and his son, Jamie, Edmund Grey and his wife Maria, Adam Chandler and Brooke English, and Zach Slater who came with his Casino manager, Bobby Warner, Anita Santos ex, made their way to the top of the ramp.
She waited a few more minutes, letting the couples talk amongst themselves as she waited for the few guests to arrive. She called for their attention a few minutes later. They fell silent after only a few seconds. She smiled that the group and began her introduction.
" Hello and welcome to the Tempted Fate." She began with her upper crust British accent, " My name is Lesley Devonshire and I'm going to be your hostess. I would like to start by thanking Miss Montgomery for allowing me to host this event in her daughter's honor. I hope that you're all going to enjoy what I have planned for you. It's going to be quite a weekend." She said. She continued on with her speech and an overview of what the weekend was all about. She said that they could all go to their rooms and get settled, but not to unpack...they would find out why soon. She passed out room keys and gave them directions to their rooms.
They were directed to meet back in the dining room in an hour for their next set of instructions. And with that, they all started to their rooms. She just kept smiling. They had no idea what they were in for. This was going to be a weekend that no one would soon forget.
To be continued
KaT too, fun stuff. Ethan and Bianca is an interesting combo. This just gets to be more fun each chapter!