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Post by unavitasegreta on Sept 8, 2015 20:36:23 GMT -5
Chapter Forty-One
Crossing the living room to the drink cart, Philip looked over his shoulder. His Greek wasn’t that great, but he could at least read the numbers on the clock. “One more drink won’t hurt. What else have I got to do tonight?” he mused, reaching for a bottle of gin and pouring it into a martini shaker. Hearing the door open, he tried to remember how to ask if they had any olives in the kitchen. “Dad!” Philip exclaimed, expecting to see the housekeeper. “What are you doing here?”
“What do you think I’m doing here?” he retorted, putting down the leather garment bag he was carrying.
Philip sighed, “I’m a grown man, Dad. You didn’t need to check up on me.”
“Check up on you?” Victor frowned. “I didn’t know you were here.”
“You expect me to believe that you didn’t follow me here?” Philip replied skeptically.
“Why would I follow you?” Victor asked.
“You’ve been calling me for almost two weeks straight.”
“I doubt I’m the only one,” Victor pointed out.
“I thought maybe we were making some progress, Dad, but the fact that you followed me here tells me that you still don’t understand boundaries…”
“I didn’t follow you, son!” he interrupted.
“This is classic Victor Kiriakis. You’ve come here to tell me to go fight for Stephanie rather than tuck my tail between my legs and give up.”
“So you’re giving up then?” Victor asked.
“You always assume the worst about me, Dad.”
“I give up,” Victor grumbled, turning around to leave the room.
Philip watched him go, shaking his head. Turning back to his drink, he heard a familiar voice coming from the foyer.
“Honey, where are you going?”
“We need to stay at one of the other houses on the property.”
“Why? We’re already here.”
“We just do.”
“That’s not an answer, Victor.”
“Maggie, can we not argue on vacation?”
Philip walked into the foyer. “You two came here on vacation…?”
“Philip!” Maggie exclaimed. “We’ve all been so worried about you!” She pulled him into a hug.
Philip patted her back politely before pulling away.
“We obviously didn’t know you were here, son,” Victor pointed out. “I’ll make arrangements for us to stay in one of the other houses.”
Philip looked between them. “I’m heading home tomorrow. This is a huge place. As long as you don’t go skinny-dipping in the pool or get amorous in the living room, I think we can share the house for one night,” he joked.
“We’ll try to restrain ourselves,” Maggie smiled.
“I make no promises,” Victor added, wrapping his arm around Maggie’s waist and pulling her against him.
“Isn’t love just grand,” Philip mused, turning around and walking back into the living room.
Maggie and Victor looked at one another, uncertain about Philip’s mood.
“I’ll go unpack our bags,” Maggie suggested, walking to where the luggage was beside the front door. “Why don’t you try and talk to him?”
“That didn’t go over too well a few minutes ago,” Victor told her.
“Then don’t talk to him about Stephanie. Just be his father and talk to him.”
“Easier said that done,” Victor mumbled as Maggie headed down the hall.
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Post by unavitasegreta on Sept 8, 2015 20:43:02 GMT -5
Since I missed posting on Monday due to being out of town, I'm posting twice tonight. This is what is happening back in Chicago with Stephanie. I've been traveling all day and I'm too tired of figure it all out, so forgive me if the time zone differences are off. I'll blame it on warped time in the DOOL universe!
Chapter Forty-Two
“Yes, what is it?” Stephanie sighed as her phone buzzed.
“There’s someone here to see you, but she’s not on the approved list or your calendar.”
“I don’t have time for anyone today,” Stephanie told her assistant.
“She’s very insistent. Says that she has to see you. It’s personal.”
“Well, who is it?”
“Her name is Melanie Jonas.”
Cursing under her breath, Stephanie sighed, “fine, send her in.”
A few moments later the door cracked open and the head of the last person she wanted to see popped in, “Hi. I hope it’s not a bad time.”
“Yes, it’s a bad time,” Stephanie told her, folding her arms across her desk. “I have half a dozen reports to go through and-” She stopped, sighing heavily, “why are you here Melanie?”
Melanie came into the office and closed the door behind her. “Philip is a mess.”
“That doesn’t tell me why you’re here in my office…”
“It’s your fault.”
Stephanie threw her pen down and pushed her chair back, “again, that doesn’t tell me why you’re here!”
“Well, he didn’t show up at work for like three days, so his assistant called his dad. He’s not taking Victor’s calls. So Victor tried to get Brady to call him and he still wouldn’t answer, but he did send a text to my grandma or something. Then she ran into your mom and she said you guys broke up.”
Stephanie rubbed her temple. “I have no idea what you’re going on about…”
“Philip … he’s a mess.”
“Yeah, I got that part,” Stephanie told her. “But why are you here? Why is this your business?”
Melanie looked around. “I don’t know, really.”
“Well, thanks for coming by,” Stephanie told her, turning back to her reports.
“You have a great view,” Melanie said, looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows.
“It’s a perk of the job. You can go now,” she added, pointing towards the door.
“So, what are you … like head of some division or something?”
“Something like that,” Stephanie mumbled.
“Chanel is fancy. Like way better than any job you’d ever get in Salem.”
Stephanie stopped and looked at her. “Melanie, why did you come here?”
“Everyone’s worried about Philip. Like they’re all freaking out because he won’t talk to anyone. Not even Victor or Brady. He just says he’s fine. I don’t know. Maybe they’re exaggerating. I haven’t seen him or talked to him since we did that gift exchange thing for Victor. But I can tell that Victor is really worried. And not just about the company. And when he’s upset, my grandma is upset. And then Brady’s upset. And they’re my favorite people in the world. So I don’t know, I guess I thought if you knew Philip was so miserable that maybe … ugh, I don’t know. I never think these things through.”
“No, you don’t,” Stephanie agreed. “Wait … gift exchange?” she asked.
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Post by Kpatch on Sept 8, 2015 21:49:38 GMT -5
Chapter 41 — where are they? Greece? Quite a coincidence ending up in the same place. I am hurting for Philip. I laughed when Victor said "I give up" right after they were talking about giving up. Victor is such a teenager. Loved it when he said "I make no promises." You write Maggie and Victor so perfectly!
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Post by heroicmuse on Sept 8, 2015 21:59:15 GMT -5
I loved the Magic scene too! And now Stephanie is finally going to realize she jumped to conclusions. Now I have Melanie's over-the-top fast paced cadence in my head again but it was worth it for that. LOL
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Post by fluffysmom on Sept 8, 2015 22:00:42 GMT -5
Victor can't seem to say anything to Philip that doesn't set him off. You captured Melanie's bumbling nonsense perfectly. It looks like she may actually reveal the truth about her visit with Philip. Thanks for the bonus chapter unavitasegreta. |
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Post by unavitasegreta on Sept 8, 2015 22:11:37 GMT -5
Yes, Kpatch, the Kiriakis clan is in Greece. I'm sorry if I didn't make that clear. I forgot to take my laptop on my trip so I didn't get to edit this weekend. Melanie was not easy to write, especially since she's one of my least favorite characters. I'm glad reading her part isn't too painful! |
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Post by Kpatch on Sept 9, 2015 8:31:53 GMT -5
Chapter 42 - What an unwelcome surprise for Stephanie to get a visit from Melanie. I did like how Melanie heard about Philip's state of mind through the grapevine, which is alive and well in Salem. Now I too am wondering: What gift exchange???
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Post by kathyj on Sept 9, 2015 16:57:10 GMT -5
Your characters are perfect - you never miss a beat in writing their actions/reactions. I can hear their voices.
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Post by unavitasegreta on Sept 9, 2015 19:01:16 GMT -5
Chapter Forty-Three
“You saw Philip for a gift exchange?” Stephanie asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
Melanie nodded. “You know, that necklace Victor had repaired by some jewelry guy here in town. It was supposed to be like the most romantic gift ever or something like that ‘cause Mickey gave it to her and then she broke it and she thought it was like ruined forever. I don’t know. But Victor was all stressed out that he wouldn’t have time to get it before taking Grandma out of town. Philip saved the day and met me just outside Salem with it. I barely made it too. They’d almost left. I had to chase them down the driveway,” she laughed nervously, twirling her fingers in her messy hair.
“Oh,” Stephanie replied, a dozen thoughts racing through her mind.
Things fell silent between them until Melanie exclaimed, “oh my god, do you have a kid?”
Melanie reached for a picture on the table next to the couch in Stephanie’s office, “is this your little girl? She’s soooo cute.” She turned around and held the picture up.
“Ava,” Stephanie told her. “She’s a little older now than she was in that picture.”
“She looks just like you.”
“Thanks.”
Melanie’s eyes landed on the ring on Stephanie’s hand. “Did Philip propose to you?” she gasped.
Stephanie pulled her hand back. “No, this is … I haven’t taken it off since my husband died.”
“Oh. Sorry. I just thought... Well, never mind. Wait, you got married?” she stammered.
Stephanie nodded, “I did.”
“How’d he die?” Melanie caught herself, “wow, that was insensitive.”
“It’s okay,” Stephanie laughed, finding that she was actually more amused by Melanie than annoyed. That was certainly a change from their past. “We went to New York for a weekend and he fell while ice skating at Rockefeller Center.”
“Oh, wow, so like he died right then?”
“Two days later,” Stephanie told her. “He had a nagging headache, but he went to work anyway. His colleague said they were talking one minute and the next he was gone.”
“Wow, that sucks,” Melanie said.
Stephanie nodded. “At least it was quick and painless.”
Melanie absently fluffed her hair, fidgeting. “Look, I know I probably shouldn’t have come, but … if you could just like call Philip or something.” Melanie walked to the door and turned back to look at Stephanie. “You know, I hated you for a really long time, but I’m glad that you found where you were meant to be in life. It kinda makes me realize what a mess my life has become. You’ve got this fancy job and a kid and you got married. I’m in the same place I was, pretty much, when you left Salem. Okay. I should go. Bye.”
Stephanie watched as Melanie left, closing the door behind her. Rising from her chair, she walked over to the window and looked out.
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Post by heroicmuse on Sept 9, 2015 19:11:59 GMT -5
Wow. I was impressed with Melanie's exit line. (Somehow she's more impressive when GOING AWAY. LOL)
I hope Stephanie reaches out to Philip and they can repair things.
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Post by Kpatch on Sept 9, 2015 20:27:36 GMT -5
Stephanie now knows that she put herself and Philip through hell for nothing! How can you write a story like that??? Oh. Nevermind. LOLOL.
Best description of Melanie ever: she laughed nervously, twirling her fingers in her messy hair.
Thanks for filling in the blanks about Ashby. What a freak thing!
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Post by unavitasegreta on Sept 9, 2015 20:31:47 GMT -5
Stephanie now knows that she put herself and Philip through hell for nothing! How can you write a story like that??? Oh. Nevermind. LOLOL. Pot, meet Kettle. |
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Post by fluffysmom on Sept 9, 2015 21:36:08 GMT -5
For once I actually enjoyed a visit from Melanie. I'm glad she explained why she was with Philip.
Poor Ashby. His death must have been a complete shock to Stephanie.
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Post by unavitasegreta on Sept 10, 2015 20:04:42 GMT -5
Chapter Forty-Four
“You don’t have to try and cheer me up, Dad,” Philip offered, shaking the ingredients in his martini together.
“Sorry, son, Maggie’s orders, and you know how hard it is to say no to her,” he replied, unbuttoning his coat as he sat down on the couch.
“That I do,” Philip nodded, pouring the liquor into two glasses.
“She means well,” Victor noted.
Philip brought a drink over to his father, then sat down in a nearby chair. “You don’t deserve her, you know that?”
“That’s what everyone tells me.”
They both fell silent.
Philip downed half of his drink, then looked over at his father. “I know you want to ask me about Stephanie, so go ahead.”
“Relationships aren’t really my area of expertise,” Victor admitted. “What am I supposed to want to ask?”
“I don’t know, Philip,” shrugged. “Relationships clearly aren’t my strong point either.”
“Your mother and I didn’t set a very good example for you,” Victor noted.
“The fact that I’m single isn’t your fault, Dad,” Philip told him.
“It took me a long time to find true love. I don’t want you to have to wait that long, son.”
“I have no problem finding it. It’s keeping myself from doing something to sabotage the relationship that’s my problem,” he mused.
Victor remained silent as Philip spoke. He finished his martini and set the glass on the table.
“You want another?” Philip asked, motioning towards the empty glass.
“I shouldn’t,” Victor insisted. “Maggie doesn’t mind my drinking, but I try not to have too many and taste like gin.”
Philip frowned, “that’s gross, Dad.”
Victor laughed, amused by his son’s disgust.
“I know you probably won’t believe me when I say this, but all your mother and I want is for you to be happy.”
Philip rose from his chair and went to the bar to make another drink. “I believe you mean that. It’s just that usually we have different ideas of what will make me happy.”
“Stephanie made you happy,” Victor pointed out.
“Yeah, she did,” Philip nodded as he poured a little extra gin into the shaker this time.
“Then why are you half way around the world instead of at home trying to win her back?”
“I don’t know if I still have a chance, Dad,” Philip sighed, shaking the drink.
“From what I hear, she’s just as miserable as you are,” Victor told him.
Philip put the shaker down and turned to look at his father. “Is the Titan jet still on the runway?”
Victor nodded, “they’re probably re-fueling for the return flight now. Why?”
Philip smirked, “You know, if you’re staying here for a few days, then someone needs to represent Titan at the awards ceremony tomorrow night.”
“That’s the reason you’re-,” Victor stopped speaking, realizing what his son was thinking. “You know, son, you’re right, someone does need to represent Titan. I’ll call the pilot and tell him to delay takeoff for an hour.”
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Post by Kpatch on Sept 10, 2015 21:22:44 GMT -5
Fabulous scene and descriptions. LOL at Philip telling his father he was being gross. I love the subtle humor.
And somehow Victor got through to Philip. I can't wait for the awards ceremony — where it all began! Is it supposed to be a year later?
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