ETHAN VAN RUSSELL-Up to Something

To some, it may seem like he and Donna were late to the New Year's Eve party, but to Ethan everything was perfect. After an hour of enjoying Donna, they dressed and headed to the party.

As many times as he had been to this island, their resort, he could not remember a time he was any happier in his life. He was content. He had work, and though he loathed his brother at times, he loved working for Van Russell Enterprises. Though they got on his nerves at times, he loved his two children. Now three, because even though he had known Tony a few months, he loved him most of all.

He would never admit it to anyone, but he did. He felt an instant connection with him that he never felt with Chrissy or Ejay. He would try not to treat him any differently.

Most of all, he was happy he had the love of his life by his side to bring in the new year. They never had that, Donna left him mid-December nineteen years ago. They were going to have the next nineteen years and more to make up for it.

Quarter till midnight he and Donna finally made it to the gala at the hotel. There were so many people. He held Donna's hand and said hello to a few people who thought they knew him. He never was one to make friends well. After he and the Jackson brothers' friendship ended, he never cared to have new ones replace them.

"Ethan, it's getting close to midnight, one dance first," Donna said.

"I'm just going to find my father and Marty and let them know we are here."

"No, no, no," she said, stopping him. "Dance with me mister or no repeat performances of what just went down."

Ethan grinned. Donna had pulled some tricks on him that he did not know she had and he for sure wanted to do those again.

He pulled her in his arms and danced to a jazzy song played by the live band. He was no great dancer, but with Donna, he felt like Fred Astaire.

"Kiss me," Ethan said.

"You have to wait till midnight, mister."

"No, kiss me now." Ethan pulled her in for a kiss in the middle of the dance floor.

The music ended and they still stood there kissing.

"Same old Ethan!" he heard.

He knew that voice. Without even looking, he pulled away from Donna and rubbed her face. Why, oh why did this woman have to ruin their perfect moment?

Kaii Pilau, the only woman other than Donna he ever truly loved. She was his ex-mistress, the woman that came between him and Sasha many, many years ago. He finally divorced Sasha because he felt he could have a real marriage with Kaii. Though there were many women while he was with Sasha, Kaii was different.

He turned to her and smiled.

"Hello there," he said, as cool as he could pretend he was.

"Oh, it's so good to see you," she said, giving him a big hug, no matter that he was still wrapped around Donna.

He pried her away from him.

"Are you vacationing with your family? I saw Marty and-"

"Yes," he interrupted her. "Donna, this is Kaii, and Kaii, this is Donna Jackson."

"Nice to meet you-"

But Kaii cut her off. "Ethan Van Russell, I'm not interested in meeting any of your little flavors of the day. Come on, don't insult me."

"Excuse me?" Donna said with a tilt of her head.

"Kaii, Donna is not-"

"Like the girl you brought down a few months ago? How did that work out? Or the girl you left with? The exotic dancer...or whatever she called herself. You live up to the billionaire playboy title very well." Kaii was always one for drama.

Donna raised an eyebrow at him, then turned and walked away.

"Donna!" he yelled after her.

"Oh, did I say something wrong?" Kaii smiled at him.

"Look Kaii, we're over. Have been over! I told you I didn't want to marry you so just let that shit go. I thought we were friends now?"

"Friends? Baby does all of this look like I'll be happy with the friend zone." She waved her arm down to remind him that she was a beautiful woman, with a beautiful body and he was lost in that beautiful body many, many times.

"Kaii, I'm in love with Donna. Always have been, and always will be. What we had was nice...better than Sasha, but we could never work out, and you know why. Let me go." He walked away from her.

"Never," he heard Kaii say.

He had to find Donna. He was not going to let Kaii destroy their night and the end of their vacation. He made his way to the family's private party room.

"Uncle E, finally!" Elayne came over to hug him. "Where's Donna?

"I thought she would come here," he said, looking around. "Shit!"

DONNA JACKSON-That Woman

Why was she here? Why was she fooling herself? Why would she think Ethan would change his playboy ways and want only her? Because he said it and she believed him.

She walked out of the party, not in the mood for cheers. That Kaii woman was mesmerizing. If she was into chicks, she would be into her. Beyond beautiful, beyond sexy, she made Sasha look like an old hag. Ethan sure knew how to have beautiful women fall in love with him.

"Why aren't you at the party?" she heard behind her.

She turned to see Marty walking over to her holding two glasses of champagne. "Here. It's almost midnight, you should celebrate."

She took the glass from him. "Celebrate what?"

"Well, aren't you happy? You and Ethan, falling in love all over again...looking forward to the future..."

She gulped down the champagne.

"Future? Marty, don't pretend to like me. You don't want me with your brother and that's okay. With his track record it appears I may not be around long," she said. She took the other glass he was holding. "And thanks."

She walked away from him because he gave her the creeps.

MARTY VAN RUSSELL-A Plan in Motion

Seemed his plan with Kaii was already in motion and working well. Maybe before the night was over he could offer his condolences to Donna on a bad break up and hold her in his arms and do all the things he had been dreaming about doing to her.

She really should not take a drink simply handed to her unless she truly trusted that person.

ETHAN VAN RUSSELL &DONNA JACKSON-Happy Couple?

"There you are!"

Donna had finally made it to their private room. He grabbed her in his arms, but she held him back.

"Old girlfriend?"

"Huh? Kaii? Well, yeah."

"Very pretty."

"Nothing compared to you," he said. "Donna, you know I have a past. Many women. They all meant nothing. Every single one I compared to you."

"Phuh! How do I measure up to her?"

"Not even a good comparison." He held her close. "I love you. If you want me to detail every single relationship I ever had starting from kindergarten and little Jackie Sawyer...I will."

She laughed.

"There, you're smiling now."

"I'll get over how pretty she is. I have a past too, and we are not ready to go there yet."

"What if I am, Donna? We should know everything about each other. The good and the bad."

Donna shook her head. She did not even want to go there with Ethan. She had too many damn secrets to tell them all to the man she loved. He would look at her differently and she did not want that.

"Why don't we just make new beginnings!"

He smiled at her. "My thoughts exactly." He kissed her. "Gather everyone so we can have a toast at midnight."

While Donna went off to gather the kids, he went to his father and Marty.

"Always making an entrance, dear," Doreen said and hugged him.

"Better late than never," Ethan said, kissing her cheek.

"How about never late and always on time, brother," Marty said.

"You miss out on all the fun that way," Ethan said with a grin, grabbing two flutes of champagne from the server.

"Too much fun and no work, that's not how you build an empire."

"Well, you know-"

"Boys, let's keep it amicable tonight," Martin said with a puff of his cigar. "I get tired of hearing my boys fighting constantly. Relax."

"Saw Kaii in the ballroom," Marty said to him.

"So? What of it?"

"She could put a damper on things with Donna...like she did with you and Sasha."

Ethan hated the fact that sometimes Marty knew so much about him. Back then, before the divorce, they were so close that he shared everything with him. Then the divorce happened, Ethan ran wild, his brother was awarded CEO and their relationship was never the same.

"Nothing or no one could ever come between Donna and me again." He wanted to sling back the bubbly but would wait for Donna to return.

"So you say." Marty stood closer to him. "Tell that to her after she finds out about you and her assistant."

Ethan glared at his brother. How the hell did he know about Anita?

Donna and the kids made it to the room with a minute to spare. As she made her way to him, he put down the champagne and grabbed her in his arms, and kissed her with so much passion she almost lost her balance.

"What was that for?"

"I'm ready to leave and do some things with you," he said, kissing her again.

"Ugh! Mom! Dad! Really?" Tony said.

"Let me tell you something young sir, you ever find someone you love this much, never, never, never, let her leave your side," Ethan said.

"Roger that!" Tony said with a salute. "Hey, can I get champagne too?"

"Sure," Donna said. "Celebrate!"

They picked up their glasses as they counted down to the new year. Once it struck midnight, everyone cheered and Ethan pulled Donna close to him and smiled.

"I'm ready to give you the world."

Then he got down on one knee.

"What are you..." Donna's mouth flew open.

"I fell in love with you nineteen years ago and let you walk away from me. I won't make that mistake again. I want you in my life forever Prima Donna, and the best years are yet to come. You make me a better man. Thank you for that."

"Donna Jackson, I want to make you my wife and continue loving you for the rest of my life."

Ethan reached into his pocket and pulled out an 18-carat diamond and platinum ring. Donna put her hand on her chest in shock. He smiled at her.

"Will you marry me?"

Hey readers!

What do you think? Will Donna say yes?

This couple has lots of obstacles. His devilish ex, Kaii. Marty's obsession with Donna. And Anita in the wings.

XOXO
Kimberly