Written by: Dallas Walsh

Celeste Baldwin looks at Marat Kafelinkov in shock as he was the last person she was expecting to see. She had been walking in the garden on the Rockwell mansion grounds when she spotted a person, dressed in all black and a ski mask, approaching the back entrance. She rushed up to the person, suspecting that they were a robber, and they wrestled. The ski mask came off revealing Marat's face, which is surprising to her because the last she heard, Marat had been arrested for kidnapping his son, Jumper, in Moscow. But here he is, standing in front of her.

"Hey Celeste, it's been a while," Marat looks over at her with a grin on his face. "How've you been?"

"Marat?" Celeste asks him in surprise. "What the hell are you doing here? Why are you trying to break into the Rockwell mansion? How did you get out of jail? When did you get back to the USA?"

Marat chuckles back to her. "One question at a time," he winks back to her.

"I'm sorry, this … this is just a surprise to me."

"I can imagine," he says. "Look, I'll tell you everything, okay? Just promise me that you won't say anything. No one can know that I'm back, especially not Quinn."

Celeste shakes her head back to him wondering if Quinn Cunningham, the mother of Marat's youngest son, Jumper, is in danger with him being back. She knows that Marat had kidnapped Jumper and while Quinn was getting him back, Deacon Cooper was killed. Quinn and Jumper returned to Kelsey Lake while Marat had been arrested.

"I…I am not sure about this, Marat," Celeste admits to him. "I don't want any trouble."

Marat chuckles back to her. "I am not here to cause trouble," he admits to her. "The fact of the matter is, I was able to get out of jail in Moscow because of my family connections to the police force there. I came back here to see my children; not only Jumper, but Ashlee and Ivan as well. Please, Celeste, tell me that you understand, tell me that get that?"

"Of course, I do," Celeste nods back to him. "You've always been a great father to Ashlee and Ivan, but Marat, you kidnapped Jumper. Were you thinking of your other children when you did that?"

"I wasn't and I know that it was wrong," he sighs back to her. "I was so caught up in my anger towards Quinn for all of her lies. Sort of like you with Cole and Madi; I know that Madi is using her son to keep Cole away from you. If you keep my secret, Celeste, I'll help you keep Cole. And I could see my children; we could both win? What do you say? For old time's sake, let's work together?"

***

"I have to ask you, how big of a wedding do you want?" Casper Ross asks his fiancé, Lex Rockwell, as he moves to the bar in the study of the Rockwell mansion and pours two glasses of red wine. Casper, then, moves back to the sofa and places the wine in front of Lex, who is looking at wedding ideas on his tablet.

"I guess that is the loaded question," Lex chuckles back to him. "Obviously my friends and family must come, but I don't think I need much more than that. How about you? Do you want to invite your family?"

"Not really," Casper shrugs back to him. "I've told you before that I am not close to my parents, and I was the only child, so I don't have any family to invite."

"Okay, but just know that I'd support you if you wanted to reach out to your folks," Lex looks back at him. "After all, you only get married once, so I get it if you want them to be there for the special day."

"I am good without them," Casper takes a sip of his wine. "But thanks for the support."

"Of course, babe."

"I…I guess I do have a favor to ask of you though," Casper gulps back to Lex, as they lock eyes.

"Sure, what's up?"

"Well, because I don't have family and I've been on my own, I don't have a lot of savings," Casper explains to him. "So, the wedding, I'm hoping you can cover the costs? I promise I'll make it up to you after."

"Don't worry about that," Lex smiles back to him. "Me and my family will the cost of the wedding. We will have our special day, and nothing will get in the way of that."

***

Cassie Nova steps off the elevator at Rockwell Mining and moves towards the main office. She hopes that she can get some details about the Pink Roses launch, which is quickly approaching, so she can update Dyhannah Cooper, Kent Blackmore, and Dane Ashby, as they are all working together to ensure the launch is a failure.

Cassie moves into the office, which is empty, she can't help but think about her long, sorted history with Natasha Calimo, the woman that MacKenzie Rockwell, and the Rockwell Mining staff, are collaborating with on the Pink Roses campaign. She just hopes that by helping make the launch a huge failure, she will be able to reunite with Natasha's son, Jacob Calimo, the man that she loves with all of her heart.

"I will get you back, Jacob," she whispers to herself as she sits behind the desk and sees the Pink Roses file folder on the desk. As she opens the folder, she can't help but think about how she and Kent have sex the previous day, which was fantastic. While her heart belongs to Jacob, she refuses to allow herself not to have some fun while they are apart.

She starts to read the file and tries to retain as much information as she possibly can, so she can share with her co-conspirators. She freezes, however, when she hears someone at the door. She looks up and sees Mac standing there with a stunned look on his face.

"Cassie, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Mac asks her, wondering why she is in his office reading the file that is on the desk.

***

Lydia Rockwell scurries around the living room of the Rockwell mansion as she tries to collect all of her personal belongings, which she is placing in her large bag. She is running late to get to the office as she, along with everyone else, still have a million things to do before the Pink Roses launch. She stands up straight after putting her laptop in her purse and is startled to see Nathan Lockhart standing at the entry way, watching her.

"You scared me half to death, Nathan," she tells him as she puts her purse on her shoulder.

"Sorry," Nathan shrugs his shoulders. "You looked so deep in thought, that I didn't want to startle you."

"I am running late to get into Rockwell Mining," Lydia informs him. "Will I see you there later?"

"I have a few things to take care of this morning," Nathan says back to her. "Including getting our divorce papers started."

"Like I said last night, let me know when they are ready, and I will sign them."

"Good," Nathan smiles back to her. "Our marriage will be over, and we can move on."

"Exactly," Lydia purses her lips together. "I'm glad that we can be civil, Nathan, I really am."

Nathan chuckles back to her. "Yes, yes," he waves his hand. "Just remember to watch your back, Lydia. You never know when then next dagger is going to be coming from."

"What is that supposed to mean?" she asks him, stunned by his warning.

"Nothing, just a friendly warning," Nathan winks at her.

***

A short time later, Nathan steps off the elevator at the country club and moves towards Dyhannah's suite. He is eager to know what he can do to ensure the launch of the Pink Roses is a huge disaster as he believes it will him to return to the CEO position at Rockwell Mining.

He knocks on her suite door and waits for her to open it. When she does, she is only wearing a light blue silk robe. "Dyhannah, I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

"No, not at all," Dyhannah replies to him as she lets him into her suite. "I've just been having a lazy morning, I suppose."

"Well, I am assuming you know that I'm here because I want to know what I can do in this plot we have to ruin Rockwell Mining's collaboration with Roboto," Nathan looks at her, as he starts to realize how beautiful she is when her robe opens slightly.

"We should have some information by the end of the day," Dyhannah purses her lips together. "Our mole at Rockwell should be giving us an update later on."

Nathan moves closer to her. "So, we have some time to kill?"

"We do, why what's on your mind?"

"This," Nathan kisses her passionately. "It's been too long since I was with a woman, Dyhannah."

"It's been a while for me too," she admits to him as she feels his muscular arms with her hand. "Not since I found out Deacon…"

He stops her and kisses her again. "Let me help you feel alive again."

"Make love to me," she moans as his lips find her neck and he starts to unpeel the little clothing she has on off her body.

***

Stacey Rockwell moves closer to the front door of Rockwell Mining as she has a lot to do with the launch that is getting closer and closer. The best part of her being busy at work is that she won't have to focus on her, another, failed attempt at being with her ex-fiancé, Houston Blackmore, as she realized that he knew about Dyhannah feeding Kent information on the launch. As a result, she told Houston that they were over, this time for good. She has realized that she can't trust him, and she needs to try to find a way to move on from him.

As she reaches the door, Houston emerges from the bushes as he was waiting for her to arrive. "Stacey, wait," he calls out, as Stacey turns and looks at him in shock.

"Are you waiting in the bushes for me to arrive?" she asks him, still stunned by his actions. "You know that is stalker like behaviour!"

"I…I need you to hear me out," he pleads with her. "I knew if I showed up at the guesthouse, I knew you would throw me out. Stacey, please, after everything we have been through, don't you think you owe me an explanation?"

"No," Stacey yells back at him. "We have been through so much because we keep doing this to one another, Houston! I can't, I won't, do this anymore! It's over, and I mean it! Now, you have to leave me alone or I will get a restraining order against you."

A dejected Houston watches as Stacey moves into the large office tower. "I won't give up on you, Stacey. I can't."

Meanwhile, inside Rockwell Mining, Stacey pushes the button for the elevator. Suddenly, however, she puts her hand on the wall to prevent herself from collapsing.

"What's wrong with me?" she asks herself as she takes a deep breath. "I…I feel faint? Get yourself together, Stacey. You have a busy day ahead."

***

Quinn Cunningham steps off the elevator and makes a beeline for Kent's front door at the penthouse. She knocks and waits for him to open the door, which he does only with a white towel wrapped around his waist. She licks her lips and smiles at him.

"Well, good morning," she giggles as she moves into the penthouse.

"Morning Quinn," he says as he closes the door behind her. "What do I owe the pleasure of the visit?"

"I feel distracted by the sight in front of me," she blushes back to him as he chuckles. "But, if I am honest, I…I've been feeling like someone has been following me the last few days and I'm feeling a little unsettled."

"Someone is still following you?" Kent asks with an arched eyebrow. "Have you seen anyone?"

"No," Quinn shakes her head back to him. "It's just a feeling, you know the kind you get in the pit of your stomach?"

"I know it well," he says as he moves up to her. "Don't you worry, I won't let anything happen to you, Quinn."

"Thank you," she says as she puts her hand on his chest and then, they immediately lock eyes. "I need a strong man right now."

Kent leans in and kisses her on her lips while she removes the towel from his waist. "This is really what I came over for," she giggles as he starts to disrobe her, eager to have her body.

"Good, cause I'm in the mood this morning," he says as he starts to nibble on her ear.

***

"I asked you a question, Cassie," Mac says as he moves closer to the desk in the main office at Rockwell Mining. "What are you doing?"

"I, uh," Cassie stands up from the chair and moves closer to Mac. "I got here early, I guess. I was just reading the file to see where you were on that particular campaign. Am I in trouble on my first official day?"

"That particular file, it is the most important campaign we are working on right now," Mac informs her. "The information in there is not to be shared with anyone; we've already had some leaks and we can't afford another."

"I see," Cassie moves closer to him. "You seem a little, tense, from this," she says as she moves around behind him and starts rubbing his shoulders. "Why don't you let me help you relive some of that stress?'

"That…does feel…good," he moans back to her.

"I'm just getting started at making you feel good," she whispers into his ear before he turns around and kisses her passionately on lips.

"Is that right?" he asks her in between kisses.

"Lock the office door and let me prove that?" she asks him, as Mac rushes to the door and locks it, while Cassie sits up on the desk with her short dress raised so Mac can see that she's not wearing any underwear.

"Oh, you're naughty woman," he eagerly rushes back to her and kisses her.

"Don't stop Mac, please, don't stop," she moans as she digs her nails into his back.

Meanwhile, outside of the office, Lydia tries to open the office door, but she arches her eyebrow when she realizes that it is locked. She opens her purse and finds her key. She slowly unlocks the door and gasps at the sight of Mac and Cassie making love on the desk. Gutted at the sight, she closes the door and sighs.

"I've…lost…him…" she whispers as tears flood her eyes.

***

Celeste looks back at Marat as they continue to face each other near the back door of the Rockwell mansion. She still can't believe that he is back and in front of her. Furthermore, he just suggested that if she doesn't reveal that he is back, he will help her keep Madi from interfering in her relationship Cole.

"So, just so I understand," Celeste says to him. "If I keep the fact that you're back in Kelsey Lake a secret from everyone, especially Quinn, you will help me keep Cole and keep Madi from using Rocky to pull him away from me?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying," Marat finds back to her. "We both win, Celeste, you know that."

"You're right, we would," Celeste says as she bites her lower lip. "And I know that Ashlee and Ivan would want to see you; they miss their father. Okay, okay, I'll do, I'll keep your secret."

Marat pulls her into a hug. "You won't regret this, Celeste, I promise you."

"Now, what ideas do you have to prevent Madi from using Rocky to pull Cole away from me?"

"It's simple, take Rocky away from Madi," Marat tells her quickly. "She can't use her kid if she doesn't have him."

Celeste looks back at him in surprise. "What do you mean? How can I take Rocky away from his mother?"

Marat chuckles back to her. "Think about it, if everyone, especially Cole, thinks that Madi is an unfit mother, they won't allow her to raise Rocky. So, you just have to make it seem like Madi is unfit, and boom, Rocky won't be in her home anymore and Cole will have no reason to go over there. It's a brilliant idea, if I do say so myself."

***

Lydia steps out of the stall in the washroom at Rockwell Mining and moves to the sink to wash her hands. She didn't need to use the toilet, but she wanted somewhere to escape too after she saw Mac and Cassie having sex in the office. Now, she just wants to splash some water on her face and, hopefully, she can get some work done as the launch of the Pink Roses is quickly approaching.

Just as she reaches the sink, the door to the washroom opens and Cassie emerges. Lydia turns and sighs at the sight of Mac's latest lover moving up to the sink next to her.

"Seems like you're making the most of your time with the company," Lydia purses her lips together. "Or do you sleep with all of your bosses?"

"Excuse me?" Cassie looks back at her as she pulls some paper towel down from the dispenser and starts to cry her hands.

"I saw you and my former husband a few moments ago," Lydia reveals to her. "You're a piece of work, you know that?"

"You know what I just heard from that sentence?" Cassie smirks back to her. "Former husband; Mac is man that can make his own decisions."

"You're not going to get away with this."

"Get away with what? Enjoying the company of an attractive man?" Cassie sneers back to her. "I'm going to give you a piece of advice, Lydia," Cassie looks back at her. "And that is, mind your own business. I am not someone that you want to cross, trust me when I say that."

***

Lucinda moves into the country club looking to grab a drink as she is trying to keep herself calm. She knows that Nathan is going to be starting back at Rockwell Mining and she just hopes that he keeps his promise to her and that he will not feud with Mac. The last thing her family needs, she realizes, is for her children to be at each other's throats, especially with the launch of the Pink Roses coming so quickly.

As she moves to the bar, she happens to peer into the dining room, and she freezes when she sees Nathan sitting across from Dyhannah. They are clearly enjoying each other's company as they have smiles on their faces and Dyhannah chuckles at something Nathan says. The sight, however, makes Lucinda's blood boil as she can't stand Dyhannah, and doesn't want her son associated with her.

She finds herself storming over to their table, where she puts her hand on her hip when she arrives. "What the hell is going on here?" she asks, causing the two to look back at Lucinda. "Levi? What is this all about?"

"Hello to you too, mother," Nathan replies to her. "Dyhannah and I, we are just having a drink and catching up."

"Actually," Dyhannah purses her lips together and looks back at Lucinda with a grin on her face. "Nathan and I spent all morning in my suite making mad, passionate love, if you must know. We worked up an appetite and are now going to have some lunch."

Lucinda feels the blood drain from her face as she looks at her son in shock. "Please…please tell me that this isn't true! Tell me that she's lying!"

"Not that my love life is any of your concern," Nathan looks back at her. "But Dyhannah is telling the truth; we have taken our relationship to the next level."

"You won't get away with this," Lucinda coldly looks back at Dyhannah. "Mark my words, you will not get away with this."

***

Stacey paces back and forth in one of the offices at Rockwell Mining. After her encounter with Houston earlier, in which she almost fainted after, she started racking her brain about why she felt that way. Quickly, she realized that she felt similar when she first became pregnant with Drake and Poppy. She rushed to the drug store and purchased a home pregnancy test, and she is now waiting the results.

Her mind, however, is spinning, because if she is pregnant, the father of the child would be Houston. And she just ended things with Houston because of his lack of revealing that he knew that Dyhannah was giving Kent and Blackmore Ltd. secrets about the Pink Roses launch. She feels like she can't trust Houston, and without trust, they wouldn't have a relationship.

"If I am pregnant, this would change everything," she whispers to herself. "I…I can't be pregnant with Houston's baby. Please God, do not let me be pregnant."

***

Cassie steps off the elevator at Blackmore Ltd. and quickly makes a beeline towards the main office. After her morning at Rockwell Mining, she rushed over to give Dyhannah, Nathan, Kent and Dane the latest update on the Pink Roses launch. She is so lucky that she was able to read the file before Mac arrived, and of course, then seduced Mac to prevent him from asking her too many questions. She never expected that she would have made love to two men while in Kelsey Lake, but she certainly isn't complaining as she hadn't been with a man in a few months.

"Oh perfect, you're all here," she announces as she opens the door to the office and sees Kent sitting behind his desk, while Nathan, Dyhannah, and Dane are sitting on the sofa. "I've had a very productive morning at Rockwell Mining."

"Is that so?" Kent asks her as he stands up from behind his desk. "What did you uncover about the launch?"

"Yes, did you find out anything that we could use in our quest to make the launch a disaster?" Dyhannah asks her next.

"I was able to read most of the file on the launch," Cassie explains as she pours herself a brandy at the bar. "It seems like they are waiting to get final confirmation about a venue."

"Where are they thinking they will have the launch?" Nathan asks her as Cassie takes a sip of her drink.

"The initial idea is for the launch to be held at the Barracuda Blue," Cassie reveals to them.

"The Barracuda Blue?" Dane asks her quickly. "Isn't that a high-end resort in Hawaii?"

"Maui to be exact," Kent tells everyone. "I've been many times. It is a great location, if they can secure it."

"Cole went to school with the owner's niece," Nathan explains to everyone. "If Cole is in contact with her, I'd say they have a good chance at getting the location."

"Then we will have to pack our bags and go to Maui," Dyhannah reveals to them. "Because we can't let this launch be a success. We simply can't."

***

Cole types into his laptop at the large desk that is in the main office at Rockwell Mining as he is trying to wrap up more elements of the Pink Roses launch. He just hopes that he is able to secure the Barracuda Blue because he knows that it would be the perfect location for the launch party of this campaign.

"How is it possible that you look exactly the same as you did when we were in college?" a voice chuckles to him as the entry way of the office.

Cole looks up and sees his old college friend, Lyzz Thornton, standing in front of him. "Lyzzy, I can't believe it, you're here!" Cole says as he rushes up and hugs her.

"In the flesh," she chuckles back to him. "Once I got your email about the Barracuda Blue, I had to come see you. It's been way too long."

"I agree, it has been," Cole smiles back to her. "Can I get you a drink? Or do you need food?"

"I'd love a drink, maybe a vodka water?"

"Coming right up," Cole says as he moves to the bar. "So, tell me that you have good news for me? Tell me that you're here to let me know that we can use the Barracuda Blue as our venue for our launch party?"

"I spoke to my Aunt, and she agreed that it would be great for both you and the resort," Lyzz informs him as she takes a sip of her drink. "So, the answer is yes, Cole, you and your family can use the resort for your launch party."

"This is fantastic!" Cole beams back to her. "You're the best, Lyzz. You really are the best!"

***

"Hold on, hold on, I'm coming," Madi says as she rushes up the stairs in the Blackmore mansion, as she can her hear son, Rocky, crying in his room. She is carrying a bottle in her hand as she knows that he is crying because he is ready for his next feeding.

Once she's up the stairs, the front door to the mansion opens slowly. Celeste emerges in the foyer and quietly closes the door behind her. She can hear Madi and Rocky upstairs, so she breathes a sigh of relief.

"I don't have much time," she whispers to herself as she quickly walks to the living room. "I have to put these pills in Madi's drink and get out of here before she catches me."

She sees a glass of red wine sitting on the table and she smiles to herself. She recalls how Marat told her to give Madi a sleeping pill; once Madi takes the drug, she will fall asleep, and she can tell Cole to go check on Rocky. When Cole arrives, he will find Madi fast asleep, and he will believe that she isn't fit to raise their son.

Celeste drops the pill into the wine and stirs it quickly. She gets a grin on her face as she realizes that her plan will, soon, work and Madi will be out of her and Cole's lives forever.

***

A short time later, Madi is fast asleep on the sofa in the living room of the Blackmore mansion. After she gave Rocky his bottle, she came back to the living room and finished her glass of wine. Quickly, however, she feels exhausted, and she passed out on the sofa.

Cole, meanwhile, opens the front door of the mansion and arches his eyebrow as he can hear Rocky crying upstairs. He stopped by to see how Madi and Rocky were doing because he knows that Rocky was under the weather a few days earlier.

He moves to the living room and is stunned to see Madi passed out on the sofa. "Madi?" he asks her, who doesn't budge. "What the hell is going on here?"

He rushes out of the living room and up the stairs, where he picks up Rocky and tries to settle him down. "What's going on with your Mom, huh Buddy?" Cole asks Rocky, wondering why Madi is sleeping in the middle of the day.

***

Casper looks over his shoulder as he stands in the study of the Rockwell mansion to ensure no one is entering the room as his phone is ringing. He can see Grant's name on the screen, so he sighs because he knows that he told his husband not to call him; Casper doesn't want to risk anyone hearing them speak because their plan will then be exposed.

"Hey," he says into his phone, unaware that Lex is at the entrance now. Lex pauses to hear what his fiancé is saying. "I told you that you can't call me. I'll give you the updates as they come."

Lex arches his eyebrow wondering who Casper is talking too. "Yes, I can come see you, but like I said, don't call me again. It's too risky."

Lex leaves before Casper hangs up because he doesn't want him to know he was listening in. His heart is racing though, wondering what is going on with his fiancé.

***

"You really are doing a great job," Kent tells Cassie as they sit next to one another on the sofa in the main office at Blackmore Ltd. "With the information you are getting from Rockwell Mining, we are in very good shape to ensure that this launch fails completely."

Cassie purses her lips back to him with a grin on her face. "Yes, I couldn't agree more," she nods back to him. "We are going to win; we all have our own reasons as to why we want the launch to fail, and with us working together, it is certain that the launch will not go off as planned."

"From your lips…" he chuckles back to her. "Speaking of lips, I've been thinking about you."

"About me?" Cassie winks back to him. "What have you been thinking about, Kent?"

"This," he whispers back to her before he leans over and kisses her on the lips. The kiss quickly becomes more passionate.

At the door, Quinn stands frozen at the sight of her lover kissing another woman. She feels gutted at the sight and tears flow to her eyes, but she rushes away, unable to stomach seeing Kent kiss Cassie.

***

Stacey continues to pace back and forth in her office at Rockwell Mining as she continues to wait for the pregnancy test results to come back. She has been praying that she isn't pregnant because it would add another element of complication with her relationship with Houston.

She freezes when her IPhone alarm starts to go off, as she set it for 7 minutes. She takes a deep breath. "Okay, here goes nothing," she says to herself as she moves to the desk and picks up the pregnancy test.

"My God," she gasps to herself as she feels the blood drain from her face. "I'm pregnant. I'm going to have Houston's baby…again!"

***

Quinn is driving her Mercedes quickly through the streets as tears fill her eyes. She knows that Kent told her that he was single and mingling with a few women, including her, but seeing him actually kiss another woman so soon after they made love, was a lot for her to take.

"I don't know why I'm so dumb," she sighs to herself as a tear falls down her cheek. "I should have known that he wasn't seriously interested in me. He's Kent Blackmore! He could have any woman he wanted!"

As another tear falls down her cheek, Quinn misses seeing a stop sign! She ends crashing her car into the side of a garbage truck! The crash bolts Quinn's head into the steering wheel, and she lays unconscious and bleeding in her car.