The phone in the living room was still showing the news when Austin walked back in from putting Will down for a nap. “What are you watching? ” he asked. Sami nodded at the screen.
“The news. Mike’s sexual harassment case. ”
On the television, reporters were gathered outside the arbitration hearing. The witnesses, including Nurse McIntyre and Dr.
Horton, had been asked to keep everything that was said inside strictly confidential. The arbitrator, Ben Sherman, had issued a gag order. No one was commenting. But the hospital’s PR director, Carrie Reed, was on camera.
“As a witness, I’ve been asked not to comment,” she said. “But as director of public relations, I can only say that I hope the arbitrator will rule in the hospital’s favor. We need to put this ridiculous lawsuit to rest so that Dr. Horton can do what he does best—saving people’s lives and running this hospital.
”
The reporter pushed further. “You seem to have a very strong admiration for Dr. Horton. ”
Carrie didn’t blink.
“He’s one of the finest men I know. ”
Austin stood up. “I can’t watch any more of this. ” He walked out of the room.
Sami followed him. “She’s showing loyalty to Mike even though the deck’s stacked against him. Too bad she couldn’t have shown the same loyalty to you. Carrie knows Mike’s no saint.
She knows he slept with Ali. And she still supports him. ”
Austin shook his head. “When you’re in love, you wear blinders,” he said quietly.
“That’s why it took me so long to see Carrie for who she really was. You tried to warn me. I just didn’t want to believe that my wife could betray me with another man. ”
He took a breath.
“But now we know the truth. She loves Mike. She probably always will, no matter what the outcome of the case is. ”
Inside the hospital, the atmosphere was tense.
Mike Horton stood with his family—Alice, Maggie, and his father, Mickey. His lawyer had done his best, but Mike could read the room. “It doesn’t look too good for me right now,” he admitted. Craig Wesley, the man who would take Mike’s job if he lost, handed him a cup of coffee.
Mike refused it. “Hey, Mike, you’re not upset with me for what I said in there, are you? ” Craig asked. “That lawyer had me on the ropes.
”
“No, I understand completely,” Mike said flatly. In the arbitrator’s room, the decision was being made. Mickey Horton argued for further investigation into Ali McIntyre’s story. “I want to investigate this woman further,” he insisted.
But the hospital board had had enough. Fran, the head of the board, was blunt. “I say we throw some money at Ali and get her out of our lives. ”
Ben Sherman agreed.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Horton, but Mike is as guilty as they come. Those things that Mike said to Ali should never have been said by someone in his position, in jest or not. If you want this nightmare to end, the only way is a cash settlement.
”
Fran nodded. “That’s what the hospital wants. As Dr. Horton’s employers, it’s our call.
My only worry is the amount. ” She grimaced. “I just hope Gregory Charmain doesn’t bleed us dry. ”
Ali McIntyre was in the hallway with her mother, Claire, and her lawyer, Gregory.
She was practically gloating. “Mike’s a big loser,” she said loud enough for anyone to hear. “And there ain’t nothing wrong with letting him know it. ”
Her mother tried to calm her.
“Alison, start acting with more restraint. ”
Ali refused. “Oh, Mom, bug off. I’ll do as I please.
I’m in the driver’s seat here. ”
She noticed Carrie standing near Mike. “Look at that,” Ali sneered. “Carrie is hitting on Mike right here and now.
God, the bitch has no shame. ”
Claire pulled her aside. “Forget it. Gregory’s in the conference room right now negotiating what I hope will be a very lucrative settlement.
Focus on the money, and pray we get lots of it. ”
Mike, meanwhile, had reached his limit. He stepped away to cool off, and Carrie found him. “You looked like you wanted to murder Ali just now,” she said.
“I am just really getting tired of her,” Mike admitted. “Don’t sink to her level, Mike. This is going to be over soon. ”
Then she told him something that stopped him cold.
“I wonder something about Ali. There’s something that doesn’t ring true about her story. Listening to her describe the events of that night, it makes me wonder if she didn’t know all along that she was on that list for the head nurse job. ”
Mike’s mind went back.
“She did steer me into talking about the head nurse job,” he said slowly. “When Ali wants something, Mike, she gets it,” Carrie said. “I smell a setup. ”
Mike exhaled.
“That’s just really great. She sets me up, and the hospital has to pay for it. ”
Carrie stepped closer. “I know you didn’t do anything wrong.
I’ll admit I wavered and I had my doubts. But in the end, I had to trust my heart, because I love you. ”
Mike let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “I don’t think you know what it means to hear you say that.
”
Then he smiled. “So we’re going to build a life together after this, right? We’ll get past this, and everything will be perfect. ”
Carrie hesitated.
“Sounds wonderful. But I still have some unresolved issues with Austin. I have things I have to take care of. ”
Mickey appeared at the door.
“It’s time. The decision has been made. ”
Everyone filed into the conference room. Ben Sherman stood at the head of the table.
“The settlement decision is as follows. Salem University Hospital agrees to pay Ali McIntyre the sum of three million dollars. ”
Mike’s jaw tightened. “I did nothing to Miss McIntyre.
”
Ben continued. “This clears the hospital of any wrongdoing and requires that you resign from your position immediately. ”
For a moment, Mike’s whole world seemed to stop. Then Ben added, “There’s also a confidentiality agreement.
If you violate it, the money will be rescinded. Dr. Horton retains his job. ”
Ali couldn’t believe it.
“What happens to Mike? ”
“He retains his job,” Ben repeated. Ali’s face twisted. “No.
No. This is all wrong. What, I get the big kiss-off, and he just gets a slap on the wrist? Isn’t that rich?
”
Claire shoved the paper at her. “Sign the damn paper. Sign it. ”
Ali grabbed a pen.
As she signed, a silent thought burned through her. *So, you think you finally got rid of me, Mike. We’ll see. *
She handed the paper back and left the room without another word.
Craig found Claire in the hallway. “What’s going on? Why did Ali run out? Did we win?
”
“Yes, of course we did,” Claire said. “Ali will be well compensated for all her pain and suffering. ”
“And? ” Craig pressed.
“And what? ”
“Did Mike get fired? ” Nancy demanded. “Actually, no.
Mike is still chief of staff,” Claire said, and walked away. Ali made a phone call from the corridor. “This is my big chance to get even with Mike and Carrie. ”
The voice on the other end answered.
“More than ever, I’d say. ”
Ali smiled coldly. “Right. Good.
Go ahead. Do what you have to. ”
She hung up and whispered to herself, “You’re finally going to get what’s coming to you, Carrie. ”
Later that day, Austin and Sami were at Kate’s pool, trying to keep their minds off their problems.
Will was playing with his dragon toys. “Taking a break like this is helping me take my mind off Kate and Lucas,” Sami admitted. “I have a theory. ”
Austin raised an eyebrow.
“Let’s say you’re right. Lucas killed Franco. What was his motive? ”
“I don’t have a clue, and I don’t have proof,” Sami said.
“But I am not going to rest until I get both. ”
Austin sighed. “I think you’re being a little too obsessed. You need to move on with your life.
We both do. ”
He looked at her. “Us being here together—I guess it’s what I needed. It’s not like I can forget about my marriage being over.
But for the first time, I feel like I can actually deal with it. It’s going to be okay. ”
In Paris, a different kind of drama was unfolding at a château. Eric and Greta had come to search the castle that Greta had just discovered belonged to her mother, Princess Gina.
The caretaker, Kurt, had tried to turn them away at the gate. “This castle is off-limits to everyone,” Kurt insisted. “Not to the owner,” Eric countered. “Greta von Amberg is the legal owner, and we’re going to come in and do it now.
”
After a tense standoff, Kurt let them in. Greta looked around in awe. “I can’t believe my mother owned a castle and I didn’t even know about it. I feel like I’m finally going to get the answers I need about my mom.
”
Eric was less trustful of their host. “It won’t be any thanks to that Kurt guy. He’s been absolutely no help. I don’t trust him.
”
Kurt appeared behind them. “And I don’t trust you, either. ”
What they didn’t know was that the château was not empty. Princess Gina, who was presumed dead, was hiding inside.
She watched from the shadows as the visitors explored. Then she saw a car pull up outside. “It’s John,” she whispered to herself. “John has come for me.
Yes. John has come for me at last. ”
Meanwhile, in another part of Paris, Stefano DiMera and Rolf were finalizing their plan. “The messenger confirms the package was safely delivered to Gina at the Paris house,” Rolf reported.
Stefano smiled. “Very good. But will Gina give the potion to Bo and make him vulnerable to mind control? ”
“Those were your instructions,” Rolf said.
Stefano nodded, but his eyes were calculating. “And yet you appear tense,” Rolf observed. “Do you think Gina is pursuing her own goals again? Are you starting to believe you’ve completely lost control of her?
”
Stefano didn’t answer directly. “We will win him over completely,” he said instead. “And then he will never be a true Brady again. ”
Back at the Paris house, Bo Brady was getting suspicious.
He had been told that Gina—who looked exactly like his wife, Hope—was Hope herself, brainwashed into believing she was someone else. But he was watching her closely. A messenger had delivered a package earlier. Bo asked what it was.
“Oh, it’s my favorite perfume,” Gina said. “A special blend I ordered from a little shop in Paris. ”
“Why don’t you put some on? ” Bo suggested.
“No,” she said quickly. “Maybe later, after I take a warm bath. Right now I’m really thirsty. Would you like to join me for a drink?
”
Bo narrowed his eyes. “Why are you being so nice to me all of a sudden? ”
“Well,” she said, “I just figured that if you’re insisting on staying, we might as well get comfortable. ”
Later, she poured him a drink.
Bo watched her fill the glass too full. “Just like always,” he said. “You fill the glass too full. ”
Gina raised an eyebrow.
“But I thought you didn’t think I was Hope. ”
“That’s true,” Bo said. “But I also saw the way you responded to the picture of our son. ”
“As a mother, of course,” Gina said.
“I love Shawn-D. ”
Bo pushed harder. “Really? But you sent him off to boarding school.
”
“A lot of parents do that. ”
“You’re right. Gina did send Greta off to school. ”
Gina set her jaw.
“I’m going to say this one more time. Shawn-D wanted to go. He couldn’t wait to get out of the house. ”
“Now he can’t wait to get back home,” Bo countered.
“Fine, let him come home. I just want to see him happy. ”
Bo softened. “I want to see you happy.
”
“I know that. ”
“Do you also know that DiMera can’t make you happy? ”
Gina stiffened. “You can’t be serious.
I’m not looking to Stefano for happiness. ”
“The two of you at one time were close,” Bo pressed. “Probably lovers. ”
Gina looked away, then refocused.
“Like I said, Steffie, I’ll do anything. Anything at all. ”
Bo’s expression shifted. “Never,” he said quietly.
Confused, Gina reached for him. “Bo? Are you okay? What is it?
”
But Bo couldn’t speak. The drink was working. The doorbell rang. Gina opened it to find Stefano standing there.
“Why didn’t you wait for my call? ” she hissed. Stefano stepped inside. “It was taking too long.
I had to see for myself what the trouble was. ”
Gina gestured angrily. “There would have been plenty of trouble if you’d shown up a few minutes earlier. What was I supposed to do?
Show him the vial and say, ‘Here, drink up. We don’t want to keep Steffie waiting’? ”
Stefano smiled approvingly. “You’re probably right.
Good work, Gina. Good work. All right, Rolf. We are on.
Let us start with Bo’s indoctrination. ”
In the next room, Bo was slumped in a chair, his mind slipping away. Stefano stood over him. “Bo Brady came to Paris to do battle with me,” he said with satisfaction.
“Well, you lose, my friend. After all these years of bitter feuding with the Brady clan, it has brought us to this moment. I have not felt so delighted since the first capture of Roman Brady all those years ago. ”
He turned to Gina.
“And I have my precious Gina to thank for all of it. ”
Rolf adjusted the equipment. “This technique has been much improved since the brainwashing days of John Black. ”
Stefano beamed.
“I am really very excited about this procedure. Once we are through, Bo is going to be our dominant pawn. Quite a weapon to have in my arsenal against all those who stand against me. ”
Gina watched in silence as the machine whirred to life.
Stefano’s voice became a low, triumphant whisper. “We will win him over completely. And then he will never be a true Brady again.
”
