Written by: Dallas Walsh

"You're here early," Lydia Rockwell announces to Mac Rockwell as he pours himself a scotch from the large crystal decanter. Lydia moves into the board room and closes the door behind herself before she turns to look at her husband. Today is the day that their lives will change forever and she has been bracing herself for that.

Mac finishes pouring his drink and then checks his diamond-crusted, one of a kind, Rolex watch. "So are you," he notes to her, realizing that they still have about 15 minutes to go before their meeting is scheduled to begin. They are in his office building, so it is understandable as to why he is there early, but he doesn't have an idea as to why Lydia is so early.

"Would you believe I couldn't sleep last night?" she asks him as she moves closer to him, removing her large black Chanel sunglasses. They make eye contact for a moment before she moves to the decanter and pours herself a scotch as well, her finger flashing a 32 carat diamond ring on it. The ring, however, is no longer on her left hand, but rather her right.

Mac smirks before he takes a drink of his scotch. "I find that difficult to believe," he replies to her, knowing who would have been keeping her company the previous night.

"Why is that? You don't think that I care that our marriage is ending today?" she asks him before she takes a drink of her scotch. "I know it's early, but this is exactly what I needed this morning, just a little something to take this edge off."

"33 years about to come to a crashing end," he sighs, knowing that their marriage hasn't been on solid ground for many, many years, and today it will be finalized.

"I know we haven't been husband and wife in many years, Mac," she starts to tell him. "But I do hope you know that I wouldn't trade these years for anything. You gave me my children, after all and some of the best years of my life."

"But I'm not Kent Blackmore," he spits back to her, knowing that she's been having an affair for years. Only, Mac has known about the affair because he caught them in bed together but he stayed with her for the children's sake. "I'm not sure why seeing me in bed with another woman made you realize that we could finally end this sham of a marriage."

Lydia rolls her eyes slight as she puts her hand on her hip, recalling how she saw Mac and his new lover in bed. "It's not that I saw you in bed with another woman that made me realize I wanted this to be over," she informs him. "That made me realize that we aren't getting any younger, Mac. I want to be happy."

"And let me guess, Kent Blackmore makes you happy?"

"I know you will never see eye to eye with him, Mac," Lydia informs him. "But, yes, Kent makes me happy. And our children are all grown now, there is nothing keeping us together. I mean, rumour is you and this woman you were in bed with are engaged. Is that true?"

"I'm not going to talk to you about my personal relationships," he quickly responds to her. "Now, I believe Cole is coming home today. Have you heard from him?"

Lydia takes another sip of her scotch as she thinks about how upset Cole Rockwell, her eldest son, was when he was forced to leave Kelsey Lake a year ago because Mac discovered that he was snorting cocaine. Mac demanded that Cole go to the Betty Ford clinic in New York City, where he has been for the last year of his life. With Cole coming home, Lydia can only assume that he will not be happy with his father. More importantly, however, she hopes that Cole is clean and sober.

"He called me from JFK," Lydia reports to him. "He is on his way back and he wants to put his life back together."

"I trust that means he will come work for me at Rockwell Mining," Mac tells her. "After all, he is the eldest, he should be more involved in the family business. Lex is more involved than Cole is for crying out loud!"

"Lexington is the most like you," Lydia informs him, thinking of their youngest son. "He certainly has an eye for business, that's for sure."

"I'm so proud of him," Mac replies to her. "There's nothing that could change my mind about Lex. Not a thing. He has been a huge asset to Rockwell Mining."

Lydia uneasily gulps back to him. "And then there's Stacey," she says in almost a whisper, thinking of their middle child and their only daughter.

"She's lost," Mac takes a sip of his scotch. "She has no idea what she wants to do with her life right now. But she sure likes to spend the family money on clothing, shoes and having fun."

"She will come around," Lydia replies to him. "I know she will. She just has to find herself."

"Look Lydia," Mac tells her. "I know that we haven't been close over the years, but I am grateful for our children as well. If possible, I'd love it we could end this on good terms. Why fight?"

Lydia uneasily nods back to him. "I think we can try," she informs him. "But the fact of the matter is, I'm going to be involved with Kent going forward. And, I don't think that's something you will stand for, will you?"

"That man has tried to ruin Rockwell Mining every chance he has gotten," Mac spits to her. "Can you blame me for not liking him?"

"You both want the same thing," Lydia replies to him. "He wants Blackmore Ltd to be the biggest diamond mining company in the world and you want the very same thing for Rockwell Mining. You clash as a result of that. Just don't put me in the middle of it."

"I don't care what the motivation is," Mac waves his hand before he takes a sip of his scotch. "You're absolutely right, you being with that man will prevent us from being civil."

"Look, I wanted to get something clear before the lawyers arrive," Lydia changes the topic. "I will quit my position at Rockwell Mining, like you asked, but I refused to give up my shares. After 33 years together, I think you owe me that much, don't you?"

"Absolutely not," he lashes out at her. "The second you sign those divorce papers, you'll get a job at Blackmore Ltd. Why would I want you to have shares in Blackmore's leading competitor?"

"Because, I deserve them MacKenzie, and you damn well know it! We are leaving this marriage, but I gave you your three children!"

"Oh save it, Lydia," he spits back to her. "I don't want you here in my business. You can't blame me for that."

"If you don't give me those shares, then I will refuse to quit my job. You know the board of directors, namely our children, will not throw me out of this company. It's your choice: Give me my shares or let the children decide."

"Very well," Mac sighs to her, knowing that he doesn't want the children to be involved. "I want to sign the papers and then I have a meeting to get too."

"Ah yes," Lydia says as she pours the scotches. "That is something I can't say I will miss, Rockwell Mining coming before anything and everything else."

"Is that how you really feel?" Mac asks her in surprise as she nods her head back to him and then passes him his scotch. "That's because I built my company from the ground up. I've given up everything to see my company become the success it is today!"

"I know, I know," she tells him. "Don't lose your temper. I was simply stating a fact. As a shareholder, I'm glad the company is doing so well."

"Please do not remind me of that fact!"

"Today is end of an era," Lydia raises her glass. "And the dawn of a new era."

"Yes, it certainly is the start of a new era," he smirks back to her, knowing his life will change drastically with Lydia no longer his wife.

***

Cole Rockwell walks out of the airport and takes a deep breath, letting his lungs fill with the fresh Colorado air. After spending an entire year in New York City, he couldn't be happier that he is back in Kelsey Lake. There's something about the small town that makes me him feel at ease. While he enjoyed the hustle and bustle of New York, there's nothing like coming home. The air is so much fresher being close to the mountains and nature, he loves the surroundings.

The valet pulls up in a Lamborghini Veneno which brings a smile to Cole's face. One of the perks of being a Rockwell, is that you have the best of absolutely everything, including automobiles. He hasn't seen his car in over a year and can hardly wait to get back behind the wheel.

"Can I get your bags for you Mr. Rockwell?" the valet asks as he steps out of the car.

"Thank you," Cole replies to him as he moves up to the car. He hopes inside and soon the valet comes around after closing the back with the luggage inside. Cole passes him a hundred dollar bill. "For all your hard work."

"That's very generous of you, Mr. Rockwell, thank you," the valet says, as he cheeks turn red, not expecting such a nice tip.

Cole doesn't respond, instead he starts to race away in his fast vehicle. He turns his head to look at the incoming road and when he turns his head back to the road in front of him, he slams on his breaks as he sees a car in front of him.

However, there isn't enough time; his car slams into the vehicle in front of him! "God damnit!" he yells as he smashes his hands into his wheel, knowing that Mac will be furious that he got this new car into an accident. "Just what I needed."

He steps out of the car and looks at the vehicle in front of him, which is a black Audi. He can see that the back has a pretty good dent in it. Thankfully, his car doesn't seem to have much damage.

"That's a relief," he whispers to himself as he sees the driver's door of the other vehicle open. He feels his heart skip a beat when two long toned legs step out of the vehicle. The woman stands up as her long blonde hair blows in the wind as she takes off her diamond crusted sun glasses.

"Didn't you see me?" she asks Cole, who can't stop looking at her, as she looks at her car in horror. "Look at that dent!"

"Uh," he manages to say back to her. "No, I wasn't looking. I was shoulder checking and when I looked back, there you were. I'm so sorry. Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine," she snaps at him. "My car, however, is not."

"I'll take care of all of the damages," Cole manages to say. "Look, can we meet a little later on to exchange information?"

"Ugh, if I must see you again, I will," she rolls her eyes at him. "You don't have your insurance with you?"

He shakes his head no. "I just got back into town, I have nothing on me."

"Fine, let's meet later today, okay? There's a coffee shop downtown, you know it?"

"The Grind," they both say together as he smiles back at her, knowing that the Grind is his favourite coffee place in Kelsey Lake.

"Yea, I know it. How about 3:30?" he asks her as she nods back to him.

"Wait," she calls out as he was about to get into his car. "Give me that watch you're wearing."

"This watch? It's worth a lot of money," he explains to her, recalling how his father, Mac, ave him the watch a few years ago for Christmas.

"I know, I can tell. But that's how I know you'll show up later," she tells him as she comes up to him, placing her hand open in front of him so he can give her the watch.

He arches his eyebrow as he takes off his watch. "I'll see you at 3:30," he tells her, passing her the watch.

"Yes, you will," she purses her lips together.

***

"I'll have a glass of the rose, please," Stacey Rockwell tells the waiter as she sits on the patio of the Kelsey Lake country club that overlooks the gulf course, as she looks at him from under her large sunhat. Her diamond tennis bracelet sparkles in the sun as she looks over at her boyfriend, Joshua Willis.

"I'll have a pint of the Black Oak," Joshua tells the waiter before he looks back at Stacey. The waiter scurries away, leaving the couple alone, under the opened umbrella to help block the sun.

"I was thinking of going shopping after lunch," Stacey tells him as she puts her large sunglasses back on.

"Why?" Joshua asks her. "You went shopping yesterday and the day before yesterday. What could you possible need that you don't already have?"

Stacey sighs in frustration, upset with the tone that Joshua is taking with her. They have been dating for just over a year, and in recent weeks, he seems to have a huge chip on his shoulder when it comes to her. "Why do I get the feeling like I'm being scolded?"

"Maybe because you are," he snaps at her as their beverages arrive. Joshua takes his beer and takes a big gulp of it as Stacey has a sip of her wine. "All you ever do is shop, party, shop and then party again. It's tiresome!"

Stacey removes her sunglasses in disgust at him. "Forgive me if I have a certain lifestyle standard! Joshua, you are being so mean to me right now, I don't even want to stay for lunch today!"

"Oh for the love of God, Stacey," Joshua throws his hands up in the air. "Do you know how hard I worked at Yale to get my law degree? Do you know how many hours I put in the office? And what do you spend your days doing? Getting your fucking nails done and buying clothing that you'll never wear!"

"That's not fair!" she cries back to him. "I don't want to fight with you, Joshua! I really don't."

"I don't want to fight with you," he admits to her. "But, I think we have hit the end of our relationship."

"What are you saying?" she gasps back at to him, startled by what he is saying. Stacey Rockwell is not dumped, ever. She always ends her relationships and she refuses to let Joshua Willis be her first.

"I'm saying, it's over," Joshua tells her as she covers her mouth in shock.

"Joshua, please," she begins to protest.

"Nothing you will say will change my mind," he tells her as he stands up from the table. "It's over, Stacey. Take care of yourself, okay?"

Before she can reply, Joshua walks away from the table, leaving her all alone. She looks at her wine and picks it up, taking another long sip of it, trying to come to terms with what he just did to her.

***

Lex Rockwell quickly rolls out of the large king size bed and puts his pj bottoms over his naked body. He looks at the clock and realizes how late he is running. He has an important meeting at Rockwell Mining this afternoon and he needs to be there, as soon as possible so he can prepare. Lex has a lot riding on the meeting and he hates the idea of letting his father down. He looks back at the bed and sees his lover, as his eyes slowly open.

"What's the rush boo?" Jarek Williams asks as he opens his eyes fully and sees his lover rushing into the washroom, of his large two bedroom condo, in the heart of Kelsey Lake's downtown.

"I have that meeting at the office," Lex turns from the doorway and looks back at him. "I would stay longer if I could, but I have to get to work. You're not mad are you?"

"How can I be mad when I see that ass?" Jarek grins back at him. "How about we compromise? I'll meet you in the shower?"

"I can't drop the soap or I'll be late," Lex smirks back to him. "But I will always shower with my man."

Jarek stands up and moves closer to Lex, his lips pressing up against his when he reaches him. "I can't wait to see your body wet," he whispers to him, suddenly feeling aroused again.

"Then let's go," Lex winks back to him as he turns and moves to the shower, his hand inside Jarek's as he follows his lover to the shower.

***

The Rockwell mansion is unlike any other house in Kelsey Lake. The mansion, which has 58 rooms, has anything a family could want and more. A theatre room, indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness centre, a ballroom, two studies, 3 libraries and many, many guest rooms. Mac stands in the living room of his lavis home and pours himself a brandy before he looks around the house. He has a meeting to get to at Rockwell Mining shortly, but he had to come home after signing his divorce papers because Cole is expected to be home from rehab today and wants to welcome his son home.

He looks at the fireplace mantel and sees a picture of Lydia and the children next. He reaches over and picks it up. He looks at it for a moment before he moves over a a desk and he opens a drawer and puts the picture inside. He closes the desk drawer when he hears the door open.

"Cole," Mac announces as he stands up and sees his son come into the room. "Welcome home!"

"Thanks, Dad," Cole says as he comes up and hugs him. "It's good to be home."

"How was New York?" Mac asks him as they exit their embrace.

"I was at the clinic most of the time to really enjoy it, but it is good to be home," Cole replies to him.

"How are you feeling? I've missed you this year, you know?" Mac tells him as they continue to look at one another.

"How are you? I'm fine, thank you. I know I was apprehensive about going to rehab, but it was the best thing for me."

"I am so happy to hear that! I've asked your brother and sister to join us," Mac reveals to him. "But since we are alone, I do want to discuss something with you."

Cole arches his eyebrow. "I'm listening, Dad."

"Come to work with me. I want you to have a position here at Rockwell Mining, it is, after all, your birth right."

Cole nods back to him. "I figured this was coming," he admits to his father. "And, I accept. I'll work here. I just hope you know that I have a different view on things, and I won't be shy about them."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Mac smiles back to him. Before he can say anything else, Stacey and Lex coming to the living room, joining Cole and Mac.

"Cole, you're home!" Stacey squeals in delight as she gives her brother a hug.

"Hey Stace," Cole hugs her back. "Lex, you've grown up so much," he notes to Lex as he exits his embrace with Stacey.

"You look good brother," Lex notes back to him before he turns his attention to Mac. "Dad, what was so urgent today that we all had to be here?"

"I wanted you guys to hear this new from me," Mac announces to them as he moves behind his desk. "Your mother and I officially got divorce this morning."

"What? But Daddy…" Stacey starts to announce, clearly upset by the news of her parents divorcing.

"No but's Stacey," Mac interrupts her. "This has been a long time coming. Your mother is in love with another man and I, well, I've fallen in love with another woman. In fact, we are engaged to be married."

"Whoa, that's news I wasn't expecting to hear today," Cole tells his Dad as he comes up and shakes his hand. "Congratulations. Who is the lucky woman?"

"Yea, Dad, that's great news," Lex chimes into him.

Mac looks at Stacey, who folds her arms across her chest. "Stacey, come on now. You know things haven't been great between Lydia and I for some time now."

"I know, I just never thought this day would actually happen," she admits to him. "But, I am curious like Cole, who is this woman?"

"You'll all meet here very soon," Mac reveals to them. "I have to go to Serbia today on a business trip, but when I get home everyone will get to meet her."

"You're trying to close the mine in Belgrade?" Lex asks him, knowing about the deal since he is a top executive at the company.

"Exactly right, Lex," Mac nods back to him. "And, when I get back, I'm throwing an engagement party. You'll all be there and you'll meet my fiancé!"

"Can't wait Dad," Cole tells him. "I'll start working first thing in the morning and Lex can fill me in on all the on-goings at Rockwell Mining."

"Perfect," Mac replies to them. "I'm so happy that my children will be working with me to carry on the legacy of Rockwell mining."

"Except for me," Stacey sighs. "I'll see you when you get home Daddy. Travel safe, okay?"

***

Stacey opens the door to her bedroom and moves inside, unable to hide the smile from her face because Cole is home. She has missed her older brother for the year that he was gone, so the fact that he is back is most exciting for her. She realizes that she needs him right now considering that Joshua Willis just ended their relationship.

"I can't believe he would dump me," she scuffs to herself. "Does he know who I am?"

She looks around her room for a moment and as she replays the words that Joshua told her about being a spoiled brat. As she looks at her belongings, she begins to wonder if he is right. She shakes her head quickly, scolding herself for believing the words of her ex.

She moves to her closet and opens the door. The closet is larger than most people's bedrooms. There are clothes and dresses in every colour imaginable, and for every single occasion.

"Some of these dresses, I have never even wore yet," she whispers to herself as tears fill her eyes. She walks through her closet as she continues to look at her clothes and shoes.

"My God," she gasps as a tear falls down her cheek. "Joshua was right, I'm a spoiled brat!"

***

Cole opens the door to the Grind coffee house and immediately is taken back to his high school years when he skipped many classes and hung out at the coffee house instead of going to calculus. The rich smell of the coffee makes his taste buds start to go into overload as he walks up to the barista and orders two coffee's; he hopes that the woman whose car he hit earlier likes straight up coffee, because that's what he ordered for her. It is, after all, the least he could do for her since he ran into her.

He turns around and runs right into a person walking; luckily for him, the lids on the coffee's prevent most of it from spilling.

"Oh my God," he yells, surprised by what happened.

The blonde in front of him throws her hair off her face and he realizes it's the same woman as earlier in the day, whom he drove into. "What are the odds of this happening?" she asks, annoyed by him.

"I bought you a coffee," he manages to say with a grin on his face. "Sugar or cream?"

"No, I'll take it black. But I'll need a napkin to wipe the coffee off my hands," she tells him, still annoyed that he once again ran into her.

"You take the coffee's to a table, I'll grab you a napkin."

She accepts his office and grabs the coffee's and moves to a table. He soon arrives at the table and passes her a napkin. "Here you go, sorry again for all of our incidents today," he manages to say. "I guess, I'm not used to the small town life."

She arches her eyebrow. "Obviously not," she manages to say. "Thank for you the coffee, though."

"Yea, it's the least I could do. I do feel bad about your car," he tells her as he sits across from her. "Anyways, give me your insurance information and I'll make sure I cover all of the costs.

"Yes, you will," she says with a smile to him as she pulls out her insurance information.

He reads the card before he takes a picture of it. "Celeste Baldwin," he reads her name out loud, eyeing her as he does. "I wish I had met you under different circumstances, Celeste."

Celeste lets out a giggle, clearly clueing into his flirtation. "Don't flatter yourself…"

"Cole," he tells her his name.

"Cole, I appreciate that, but I'm seeing someone," Celeste purses her lips together, not wanting any extra attention.

"Figures, all the good ones are taken," he winks back to her before he passes her the insurance information back to her. "Maybe I'll see you around."

"Maybe," she says standing up from the table. "But in the future, try not to run into me or spill coffee on me, okay?"

***

Lydia looks around the living room of the large penthouse that she moved into since her divorce from Mac is finalized. While it's not the 58 room mansion that Mac owns, the penthouse is two stories and has 5 bedrooms, so it will suit her new life style just fine. She had her eye on the penthouse for a while. When you have money, your realtor can pull strings to keep properties on the market until the time is just right.

She moves over to the bar that is next to the fireplace and pours herself a glass of pinot noir and takes a drink, realizing that she has had a very long day. "I just hope that the children are okay with the divorce," she whispers to herself as she hears the doorbell ring, thinking that her children will be effected by the news.

She sets her wine glass down and moves over to the door. "Oh, Cole, you're home!" she smiles as she pulls her eldest child into a hug, her large diamond ring glittering in the light.

"Hi, Mom," he manages to say, fresh from coming from the coffee house where he saw Celeste. He knows that his Mom is having a family dinner tonight, but he can't stop thinking about the attractive blonde woman. He hopes being here will help him get his mind off Celeste. "It's good to see you."

"You too, darling," she tells him as they exit their embrace. "You're looking well."

"Thanks," he flashes his million dollar smile back to her. "Look at this place, you've done well for yourself."

"It's not Mac's mansion, but it will do."

"I'd say," Cole tells her as the doorbell goes again.

"That must be Stacey and Lex," she announces as she opens the door and sees her other two children standing there. "I'm so glad you could make it."

"Mac told us about the divorce," Stacey tells her mom as they hug quickly. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine darling," Lydia tells her. "I've opened some wine, please help yourself. Your father and I, we haven't been happy together for a very long time. This was inevitable. I just hope that you are okay."

"And he's already engaged," Lex informs Lydia, who nods back to him, informing her of Mac's news.

"I heard that. He neither confirmed or denied earlier," she reveals to her children. "Anyways, I don't want to dwell on this. I'm in this beautiful home. I'm happy. My children are with me. Cole has returned home. I want this evening to be about us celebrating the start of this new chapter, do you think we can do that?"

"Of course we can," Stacey tells her as Cole passes her a glass of the wine. "Let's have a toast, to your Mother, a survivor."

"To Mom," the three children say in unison as Lydia smiles back to them, thrilled that her children are all back with her.

***

"I'm not interrupting am I?" Kent Blackmore announces as he comes into the penthouse, following the exits of Cole, Stacey and Lex after the dinner party came to a conclusion. Kent is a tall, broading man with a big chest, and that is visible in any shirt that he wears.

"Of course not, I was just about to pour myself a night cap, would you care for one?" Lydia asks him as she moves to the bar in her long silk robe.

"I'd love one," he replies to her. "How did it go with your children tonight?"

"It was marvellous," she tells him as she comes up to him with two brandy's. "Cole is home and looking so well. I couldn't be more pleased."

"I'll drink to that," Kent says to her as they toast and then they each take a sip of the brandy. "And, this morning? Everything went well?"

"I am a divorced woman," she announces with a sense of pride in her voice. "I got the money I thought I was owed, and I was able to convince Mac to let me keep my shares in Rockwell Mining."

Kent nods back to her impressed by her. "But you didn't keep your position at the company?"

Lydia shakes her head no. "I believe Mac was going to ask Cole to take on the job, but Cole didn't want to speak about business tonight. But that is fine. I have my shares, that's all I need."

"You can't blame Cole,after everything he's been through. He probably just wanted to see you," Kent tells her. "But you do know what this means?"

"What's that?" Lydia asks him as she looks back at him.

"You can come work for Blackmore Ltd," he reveals to her. "And, you can help me with a special project."

Lydia laughs a little. "What project is that?"

"The one where I slowly take down Rockwell Mining," Kent reveals to her in a whispered voice. "I've wanted to see that company falter for as long as I remember. And now that you're not working there, what's stopping you from helping me?"

"How about my children?" she replies to him quickly. "I know you hate Mac and Rockwell Mining but I can't betray my children."

"You'd be doing them a favor," Kent tells her. "Look Lydia, you know that I love you. I think it's time that you put your love for me first, don't you? We can be together now. Let's really be together in every way, in the bedroom and the boardroom. What do you say?"

Before Lydia can reply, Kent's cell phone rings. "Excuse me for a moment," he says as he sets his drink down and he grabs his phone. "Kent Blackmore speaking…" he says into his phone. "He did what? When he is leaving?...Get me all the details now!"

"What's wrong?" Lydia asks him as she comes up to him.

"Mac is headed to Serbia to try to buy a mine in Belgrade," Kent reveals to her.

"What's the problem?"

"Blackmore Ltd is also putting an offer in on that mine," Kent tells her. "That mine has some of the largest, rarest diamonds in the world. Whomever gets this deal will be making millions. I have to get this mine under Blackmore. I won't settle for anything less. I refuse too!"

***

"Yes, Dad, I'm at the office now," Lex tells his father as he sits at Mac's desk, looking at the Belgrade file that is in front of him. "You'll be meeting with Novak Jankovic in Serbia, he is the foreman of the mine.

"Good, good," Mac tells him from the private plane. "Listen, Lex, the real reason that I wanted to talk to you before the flight is because tomorrow Cole will be starting work and I need you to do me a favor."

"Anything father," Lex replies to him, desperate to impress him.

"Keep an eye on him and show him the ropes, okay?" Mac asks him. "He's been away for a year a lot has changed and we aren't the same company we were a year ago."

Lex nods to his father through the phone. "Don't worry Dad," Lex advises him. "I'll make sure that Cole knows exactly how we are running things around here now. Travel safe, let me know how it goes."

"I will son."

***

The next morning, as the sun beats down, a cup of coffee is poured for Lydia as she sits on the patio at the country club. Her large diamond earnings sparkle in the sun light as she takes a sip of her coffee. Her mind races about how Kent wants her to help him take down Rockwell Mining, which is wants to do because she knows that the company was always second in her marriage to Mac. The problem that she has with helping Kent is because her children are still working with Mac at the company; the last thing she wants to do is hurt her children.

"Unless," she whispers to herself. "I convince the children to come work at Blackmore Ltd. That way, we can all work together as family without the negative influence of Mac."

"Good morning mother," Stacey announces to Lydia as she arrives at the table, removing her sunglasses.

"Stacey, darling, good morning," Lydia replies. "Goodness, is that a new ring?" Lydia asks her as she notices a large diamond ring on Stacey's right hand.

Stacey nods back to her. "A present from Daddy," Stacey smiles back to her as the waiter comes over and pours her a cup of coffee. "How are you this morning?"

"I'm a free woman, so I'm feeling great. Kent has offered me a position at Blackmore Ltd, which I think I will accept."

Stacey shakes her head a little before she takes a drink of her coffee. "I still can't believe that you and Daddy are over and you're already with Kent Blackmore," she admits to her mother.

"Darling, I've been with Kent for a number of years. This relationship is nothing new."

"I know, I know," Stacey tells her as she waves her hand, flashing her huge diamond ring. "It just feels like it's…the end of an era."

Lydia sets her coffee cup down when she sees how upset her daughter is. "Stacey, what is it? Why are you so emotional? It has to be more than my divorce from your father. Tell me what's troubling you."

Stacey wipes her eyes with a Kleenex before she looks at her mom. "I'm so sorry," she bites her lip trying to prevent herself from crying. "It's Joshua."

"What about him?" Lydia asks her. "Has he done something to upset you?"

"He ended things with me yesterday," Stacey reveals as Lydia gasps in shock.

"Why would he do such a thing? Doesn't he realize what a beautiful young woman you are?" Lydia asks her.

"He said that I'm nothing more than a spoiled brat," Stacey tells her Mom. "And, I'm beginning to think that he's right."

Lydia reaches over and grabs Stacey's hand. "You simply cannot think that way," Lydia tells her. "You are a bright, beautiful young woman that has her entire future in front of her. Any boy would be lucky to have you by his side. Joshua is a fool for letting you go."

"I guess I'm just thinking about what I should be doing with my life," Stacey confesses to her Mom. "Cole and Lex, they have jobs at Rockwell Mining. I'm just…I'm not doing enough with my life."

"Well, dear," Lydia starts to reply to her. "You are young. You have your entire life in front of you. Why don't you take some time and think about what it is you want to do and if there's anything I can do to assist you, you know that I will. I can even talk to Kent about a position at Blackmore Ltd, if you'd like."

Stacey smiles back to her Mom. "Thank you," she whispers to her. "I'll think about it and see what I decide."

***

That afternoon, Cole emerges from the change room at the country club wearing a form fitting white polo, as he finished working out. He decided to work out at the club instead of the mansion this afternoon just to have a change of scenery. He feels like the mansion, while huge, can be very cold at times. And, because he's freshly back in town, he is hoping to see some of his former friends. The only ones that work out at the mansion are himself and his siblings.

He is about to head to the exit when he turns his head and looks into the restaurant and he spots Celeste sitting by herself, sipping a glass of chardonnay. She's wearing a short summer dress, and he can't help but notice her long, toned legs. He finds himself moving up to the woman, whom he has a had a few run in's with since being back in town, unable to deny his attraction to her.

"Good afternoon," he says as he arrives at her table.

"Cole, hi," she replies to him, as she notices his bulging biceps from his polo. "Have a good work out?"

He nods back to her. "Yea, it was good to get back into the gym. I had been slacking off lately," he winks at her. "How about you? You work out often?"

"I try to every once in a while," she smiles back to him.

"Are you alone?" he finds himself asking as she nods to him. "I thought you had a boyfriend. Why wouldn't he be having lunch with you?"

"You sure do ask a lot of questions," she tells him, as she wrinkles her nose.

He shrugs his shoulders. "I guess I'm just surprised," he reveals to her. "If you were my girl, I wouldn't leave you alone for a second."

"Good thing I'm not your girl then," she quickly replies to him. "I like my space."

He chuckles back to her. "So if you're alone, do you mind if I join you for lunch?"

She pauses and takes a sip of her wine. "Are you about to drive an automobile?" she asks him as he shakes his head no. "Do you have any hot coffee that you could potentially spill on me?" He laughs as she shakes his head no. "Then, yea I guess you can join me."

"You have a good sense of humour, you know that," he tells her as he sits across from her.

"In life, you have to laugh at situations, you know?"

"Absolutely I know," he replies to her. "How about a toast, to whatever life throws at us," he suggest to her.

"I'll drink to that," she says to him as their eyes lock with one another.

***

"Darling, are you here?" Lydia announces as she opens the door to her penthouse, fresh from her brunch with Stacey. She hopes that her daughter comes to terms with whatever it is she'd like to do with her life. She knows that the only thing she can really do is support her. Right now, she has other things on her mind.

Kent emerges in the living room as Lydia walks inside. She moves up to her lover and they kiss on both cheeks. "How was brunch with Stacey?"

"It was fine, darling," she tells him. "She's going through an early mid-life crisis, but nothing that she won't pull out of."

"I see," Kent replies to her. "Have you given any more thought to coming to with me at Blackmore Ltd?" he asks her, hoping that she will say yes. "You know that I'd love to have you working next to me as I try to make Blackmore the biggest diamond mining empire in the world."

"I'm glad you brought that up today," she admits to him. "Because I have been thinking about it, and I would love to work with you at Blackmore. And, I agree, together we can make Blackmore Ltd the most powerful company in the world. But you have to know something, and that is, I will not hurt my children in the process."

"That's understandable," Kent tells her as he smiles back to her. "I'm thrilled by your decision. Now, the first thing that we need to work on is this Serbian mine. We have to ensure that Mac doesn't outbid me. Then we can talk about Rockwell Mining."

"This feels like deja vu," she admits to him, as her mind wonders back to a many years earlier, when she helped him defeat Mac in the bidding war.

"Only, you won't have access to Rockwell Mining files anymore," he whispers, as the wheels in his head start to turn. "I hate going in blindly, but I have no other choice. This is not like last time."

"You're a smart business man," she tells him as she rubs his back. "You can get this mine, and you don't have to fly to Serbia to do so."

"That's why I love you," he grins to her. "You always know exactly what to say."

She arches her eyebrow. "Good, because I will do whatever it takes to make sure that Mac and Rockwell Mining do not get that mine. We have to ensure Blackmore wins this battle."

"Exactly," he tells her. "Pass me my phone, will you?"

"Who are you calling?"

"The foreman of the mine," Kent informs her. "I'm going to outbid Mac. That's how I'll get the mine."