ETHAN VAN RUSSELL-Back to Work, Back to Wreck

He felt better so he decided to hit the office today. Donna did not think it was a good idea.

"A few more days Ethan, that's all. You need more rest."

"I let your brothers win if they think they have me down."

"Nobody wins if you reinjure your ribs."

"I'll be careful."

"You'd better."

He kissed her and was off to work. He did not tell her the reason he had to go in was to stop the massacre he started. The Scoville deal was all his idea. He knew it was the perfect properties for Jackson Properties to take over. He knew they needed it.

He also knew if Donna was their legal counsel and approved any contracts, she would not approve them with the help of her scheming assistant giving her false information.

Ethan did not ask why Anita wanted to take the Jacksons down, he just knew he needed her in his pocket. She did her part with Donna, had her stall on the deal giving Van Russells a chance to scoop it up.

Ethan also knew they had no real use for most of the Scoville properties they acquired. Only one major strip mall had possibilities of housing their department store, and it was not in their ideal target area. It was a dead deal for them, but he knew that would put them in direct target for Jackson to come to them.

And they had.

He wanted it to be Donna so he could gloat over her begging.

Knowing her now, she would have never done that. It was not her.

Now he had to make this mess go away and hoped Donna never found out. Especially his fling with Anita.

In his office, Noralene was shocked to see him.

"You look like hell."

"Battered and bruised is the new GQ," he said and kissed her cheek.

"Don't ever do that again," she said without batting an eye.

"I missed you." He gave her his best sexy smile, knowing it never worked, but he liked getting under her skin.

"Funny, my days go by a lot quicker with you not in them. Coffee?"

"With a side of Tylenol please."

Ethan immediately got started drafting a letter to sell sixty percent of the Scoville properties to Jackson.

ANTONIO JACKSON-Go Make That Money

"Antonio, get back to bed," Sasha moaned.

"Work baby." He grabbed his pajama bottoms.

"I'm horny," she said as she tossed her delectable body in the bed.

He chuckled. "When are you not."

"Just one more time."

"Babe, we've been at it all morning. I'm late as is," he said. He leaned over and kissed her. "I have to go make this money so I can buy my beautiful wife all the pretty things she likes."

"That would be nice. Mommy needs more Prada."

"I get the girls tonight. We can go shopping."

"Tonight?" Sasha sat up in bed. "It's a Wednesday."

"I know, but Tamara has to go out of town. I want the girls with me, and not with her sister. That's okay, right?"

"You know I love those girls. Such princesses."

"Perfect. I'm leaving work early to pick them up. Be ready, I'm taking you ladies out."

Antonio showered and grabbed a freshly made croissant his chef always had waiting for him in the morning and a protein shake. Coffee was for the birds. He needed protein to keep him strong and fit.

Not that he got to work out much running a multi-million dollar company. There was a gym at his house and one in the office building, so he fit it in when he could.

Not lately.

Too much stress in his life.

Soon as he signed into his computer, he saw an email marked urgent waiting for him. From Van Russells Enterprises.

"What the fuck is this about?"

He did not discuss it with Donna. This felt like something she would overthink...or maybe not. She was sleeping with the enemy, maybe she sweet-talked her way into this deal.

He called Quinton.

"Get in here, now."

Soon as Quinton arrived he moved his screen so he could read the letter that was attached to the email.

"This is exactly what we wanted!"

"Yeah, but don't you think this is too good to be true? This is way under the price those properties are worth."

"Maybe we whipped some good sense in his ass. Whatever. We taking this deal, right?"

"How can I say no."

"You think Donna will give it the go-ahead? Oh wait, maybe she helped cook this up."

"Maybe. But remember she hated this Scoville deal. I think Ethan is leaving her out on this. She would have said something."

"So what's the next move?"

"We sit on this. Gotta feel it out. Something just doesn't feel right when something is too good to be true."

SASHA JACKSON-Keep Trying, Trying, Trying

The girls' rooms were all ready. The twins liked to share. Angel's room was decorated with Beyoncé and Rhianna everywhere. The little diva. Too much like her mother for her own good, right down to the gray eyes.

Before Antonio and the girls arrived, Sasha took a pregnancy test, like she did every day she was ovulating and was sexing Antonio like crazy. It had to take today.

No such luck.

She had to try again tonight, even with the girls there. Try, try, try! She was not going to give up till she was pregnant.

"Hi, Sasha!" Angel said when she stormed into the house and ran up to hug her.

"Aw, my little Angel."

"Guess what? I'm going to be in Little Miss Midtown. My mom said I could.

"Uh oh! And you're going to be the cutest, most talented girl there, so you will win for sure."

"I know," Angel said without a hint that it was not an option. "Will you help me pick out my outfits?"

"Me? I bet your mother wants to help with that."

"Yeah, but you are always dressed to impress and I need that."

Sasha smiled. Oh, she wanted one of these. Just one more and she would be happy.

"Can I opt out of the shopping excursion," Courtney said, dropping her overnight bag and plopping on the sofa. "I have homework, and besides, I don't care about new clothes."

Sasha gasped. "That's almost sacrilegious for a girl to not care about pretty new clothes."

"I don't care."

"I'll take her share," Cambrea said, raising her hand. "I wear her stuff anyway."

"Come on girls, all of you are coming," Antonio said. "So wipe that pout off your face and let's get moving."

DONNA JACKSON-Level Up

She was happy to know Ethan did not make it a full day at work and then was back at his home. She was there waiting for him. She ran a bath for him, he undressed, got in, and pulled her in the large marbled tub with him.

She felt content being there at the Van Russell mansion with the man she loved so many years ago. Getting another chance with him was a dream come true. Hopefully this time around they would get things right.

Ethan lazily caressed her neck while she sat between his legs. "Move in here Donna."

"What?"

"Might as well. You've been here every day for the last week."

"We're not ready for that Ethan." She pulled herself away from him. "Tony is not ready for that."

"How can I take care of you and my son if he's not here? He's a Van Russell, he has to live like one."

Donna blinked her eyes.

"Are you saying I cannot provide for my son? How can you say some bullshit like that to me?"

Donna climbed out of the tub, bubbles all over her body.

"I...didn't mean it like that." Ethan stood out of the tub as well.

"You're saying it like the life I have given him is not enough. Because you're worth a billion and what, little old Jacksons don't make squat."

"You're making more out of this."

Ethan grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her and pulled her close to him.

"If you and I never parted, you'd both be here and taken well care of. You'd be used to this lifestyle. I'm not taking away anything from you...but he's my son, he deserved what's his."

Donna did not want this to be about money. Sure, she knew the Van Russells were filthy rich. Like old money rich, while she and her brothers were first-generation rich. They were not on the Van Russell level, not even a little bit.

How much was Ethan worth?

Maybe she should enjoy the perks of dating a billionaire. Private jets, private islands, living in a mansion, and being waited on hand in foot. That was leveling up. She didn't waste her money on hired help. She cleaned. She cooked. She did everything herself.

She prided herself on being a single, independent woman raising a son as a single parent.

"Your stubborn pride, woman." He kissed her. "Let me take care of my son. At least consider moving in."

"I can't Ethan. Let's just drop it."

"Donna-"

"Ethan, it's too soon." She was not ready for that level.

ANITA COHEN-Stalker Much?

After numerous texts and calls to Ethan that went unanswered, she had to do things her way. Something was going on with Ethan and it involved Donna.

So she followed Donna home.

Or at least, she thought she was. She headed the opposite way across town. She knew the route she was taking. She knew before she pulled up in the outskirts of town who's mansion it was.

The Van Russell mansion.

"You low down dirty bastard."

Had Ethan used her to get to Donna? She thought he hated her and the feelings were mutual. This did not make any sense.

She waited for hours to see if Donna would leave. It was after eleven at night and she had not come out. Was she staying there?

She texted Ethan.

I need to c u tonite!!

She waited for nearly ten minutes. Nothing.

Don't fuck wit me! I need to c u

After waiting another twenty minutes of nothing, she yelled out loud.

MARTY VAN RUSSELL

He could not believe it when he heard the news. Not only had his deadbeat brother fathered an illegitimate child, but it was with Donna Jackson, who he was shacking up with now.

"Great! Why not cause World War III" he thought as he left work and headed to the Van Russell estates.

His brother had come to work, but of course, left early. He had not had a face-to-face with his brother since he had been back in town and they worked in the same office. Unlike his brother who had never moved out of the family mansion, he had his own home across town. He stopped in more often when his father was home, which he was not. Martin Sr. was on an extended fishing excursion. At least he could see his niece, nephew, and Doreen.

He wondered what the Jacksons thought of his brother's illicit affair.

He knew once he saw his brother's face.

"And she's worth it?" he said to Ethan as they sat in their father's study, and he poured himself a drink.

"She has a name."

"She is just another whore to get your rocks off on till you move on to the next bitch. Nothing serious."

Ethan jumped up and threw his glass across the room.

"You will never say another disrespectful thing about Donna again!"

Marty sat there and did not flinch. "I see."

Marty sipped his drink and ignored his brother's temper that he always had. Ethan chased girls since pre-puberty. Never cared for any of them, not even the one he married. He did not believe for a second that Donna Jackson was any different.

"So, what are you going to do, live happily ever after with her? That's how this is going down?"

"Yes! I lost her back then, I'm not going to lose her again."

"And...this kid? Does she want to be paid off?"

"You're not getting it. I'm here for my son. He's going to be a part of my life. Our life. He's a Van Russell now, I expect you to treat him that way."

"I don't think so. He is half Jackson."

"He's still my son. If you can't respect that, if you can't respect Donna, you can get the fuck out."

Marty did not move an inch.

"I see the Jacksons didn't knock any sense in that thick head of yours. You were always a sucker for them. I never could trust them. You always liked the charity cases. Taking in the mutts."

Ethan charged him and punched him in the jaw. Marty pushed his brother off him.

"You're a fucking waste of space, baby brother. Get rid of the Black bitch!"

Hey readers!

So much going on! Ethan's whole trap to hurt Jackson might come back and harm his relationship with Donna.

Sasha trying to get pregnant even though Antonio is against it?

Ethan and Marty, can the brothers ever bond?

XOXO
Kimberly