AUGUST 21ST 6 PM

The Prescott's luxury beach house, a modern architectural marvel, sits majestically on the ocean's edge. Its grandeur is amplified by a spacious balcony, which stretches along the back of the house, providing uninterrupted views of the sapphire sea and golden sands. The vast panorama of the coastline serves as a living artwork, making the balcony a coveted retreat for the residents.

Lucas Prescott stands on the balcony of his parents' beach house, looking down at the beach's captivating gold sands and over the attendees of his mother's fundraiser mingling with one another.

He hates that he has to attend these disingenuous events. Rich people don't give a shit about starving children. This bunch surely does not. They don't care about anything besides themselves and their reputations. He thinks back to the last charity event his mom had put together. That one was for children with cancer- leukaemia to be exact. He remembers Mrs. Westbrook donated $350k, which must've been pocket change for her. He'll never forget the look on everyone's faces. They all looked like they'd been slapped unexpectedly. You'd think they'd be happy about it considering- but they'd all been bitter. Wishing they'd been the ones to donate that much. He'd bitten the inside of his cheek to stifle a laugh.

He recalls Mayor Strong- his girlfriend's father standing up quite abruptly, tapping his scotch glass with a spoon, signalling he had something to say. Everyone's eyes fell on him. He looked around the room for a moment before he spoke, making a show of it, like the ego-maniac he is.
"I'd like everyone's attention for a moment" he said. "I'd like to thank Mrs. Prescott for putting this together, everyone for coming, and making donations towards a good cause" he said, nodding towards Mrs. Westbrook, the one that'd donated the most. "This town- It's residents," he turned about the room. "You're all like my family, and it's wonderful to see how much we all look out for each other and for the ones that have less." If that were true, they'd look out for the people in Flint.

"It's our responsibility," he paused to correct himself. "My responsibility. To look out for everyone, for the little guys," he smirked. Lucas felt he might be sick if the speech dragged on any longer. He wished pretentious Mr. Strong would stop stroking his dick and get to the point. "While we're all here, I'd like to announce that my wife Eleanor and I will be funding the construction of the entire west wing of John Caper's Memorial Hospital," he grinned. Lucas looked over at Mrs. Strong, who looked just as surprised as everyone else. Clearly Mr. Strong did not tell her about that. Matter of fact, he bets he hadn't thought to fund the construct until he heard about Mrs. Westbrook's considerable donation. That fucking narcissist. Lucas wonders how his family can stand him at all. Not that his father is any better.

He finds himself thinking of Mr. Strong's daughter, Daisy, who like her father, can sometimes be narcissistic. The last conversation they'd had, she tried to break up with him. After what she did! He clenches his fists. He attempted to confront her. "I don't think I know what you mean," she said. In all his twenty-three years, Lucas had never been so tempted to strangle a woman. Obviously, he did not expect her to come clean, but hearing her lie about it hurt even more. In the end blackmail was his last pathetic resort to keep her. Lucas wonders if that's what it means to truly love someone- doing whatever it takes to be with them.

Although he is angry and disappointed in her, he still came. He could've very well gone back to Boulder and forgotten about her. But here he is home. At an event, he knows she'd never miss. Being here, this horrible place- the house he grew up in, makes his skin crawl. He can count on one hand how many happy memories he has here. Just like everyone in this town; the Prescott's take great care in concealing what they are really like to the world.

His mother, Queenie- beautiful and smart with her long blonde hair, sun-kissed brown eyes, slender figure and radiant smile. She'd aged exceptionally well. Of course, coming from money helps. Always too busy with her fundraisers and charity events to pay enough attention to her kids. She left all the real parenting to the nanny. She couldn't be bothered to do it herself.
He can't be angry at her though, she's broken- he has his father to thank for that.

Lucas can't remember the last time he'd seen his mother smile, a genuine smile and not one of her twisted expressions - the ones that don't look quite right. He involuntarily grimaces.

His father, Louis Prescott, the man who is almost a mirror image of him, is a shrewd entrepreneur who has amassed his wealth through not so lucrative sea trade ventures. His reputation as a skilled trader precedes him, making him a prominent figure in the world of commerce and in Caper.

But the Prescott's know what he really is, an abusive piece of crap. He hates him just as much as he hates himself for not being able to do anything about it. Lucas needs his father's money. Unlike most of the children of Capers elite, he does not have a trust fund to fall back on. His father had made sure of that- made sure his family was completely financially dependent on him. The bastard, Lucas broods.
As a junior in college, he relies heavily on his father's sponsorship he needs the man, and he hates himself for it.

Daisy Strong stands next to her mother, Eleanor, who is engrossed in conversation with Queenie Prescott, her boyfriend- soon-to-be-ex's mother. The women aren't particularly close, but they have a special relationship. They relate to each other.

They both dislike their husbands- Queenie more than Eleanor does, who can blame her, he hits her. But Queenie doesn't cheat on him, Daisy thinks sourly. It's been over a week since she'd learned of her mother's horrid affair, and she still cannot get it out of her head. Even after she'd taken care of the man who had threatened to expose the affair. She cannot stop wondering what happens now. Will her mother keep sleeping with her uncle? Does her uncle even know about the threats? And why would Wes only threaten her mother and not her uncle? There are so many unanswered questions and they all make her head spin. Eleanor laughs beside her and Daisy stifles a scoff. How could she be so carefree?

Daisy had known for a while her parent's relationship wasn't a loving one, but they'd held face, kept it together. They'd lived together, slept in the same bed, and shown up to her recitals, her award ceremonies, her spelling bees, and her high school graduation.

When did they drift so far apart that her mother would go as far as to have an affair? And with her uncle of all people! "Daisy!" Eleanor winces, recalling her from her angry thoughts. "You're hurting me, sweetheart," she says, prying Daisy's arm from hers- where her nails had been digging into. "Oh," she takes her hands off her mother and shifts uncomfortably. She can't be here, not around her mother. "Excuse me," she says, turning and walking away from the pair.

"What was that about?" Queenie whispers to Eleanor, "I don't know," she admits with frowned eyebrows. "My Lucas has been in a mood too," she confesses, looking concerned "I think they're fighting." Eleanor nods her head thoughtfully. "Maybe."

"You think it's something else?" Queenie asks, leaning towards Eleanor with increasing interest. Eleanor looks at her in disbelief- always the gossip, she thinks fondly.

"I don't think we'll know for sure unless we ask them ourselves," the pair exchange a look of dread- shudder comically and burst out laughing. Queenie is the only person besides Heath who makes Eleanor truly happy. And the only person she can be openly happy with. Their friendship is something Eleanor holds closely to her heart- something she wished she had years ago when Daisy's issues had surfaced.

Eleanor wonders if nows too late to confide in her friend concerning everything- her affair included. Would she understand? And can she count on her discretion. . .

"Kat," Queenie says- still laughing. Kat? Eleanor turns and comes face to face with her sister, Katherine. When did they get close enough for nicknames? "What's the joke?" she smiles awkwardly.

"Oh, it's nothing," Queenie replies, slapping Eleanor on the shoulder lightly. "It's good to see you," she stretches out her arms for an embrace.
Much to Eleanor's displeasure- they hold each other momentarily before breaking apart.

"Queenie, everything looks wonderful. Like usual, you've outdone yourself," Katherine- Kat. Eleanor rolls her eyes, says.

"Oh, thank you. The landscaping really does make everything stand out doesn't it?" The women nod their heads in agreement. "Well, I have my gardener, Wes to thank for that. Although he hasn't come into work for the past two days." she frowns.

Eleanor shifts uncomfortably at the sound of his name. Wesley had been recommended to her by Queenie, she'd often spoken about how good of a landscaper/gardener he was, and Eleanor needed someone to do some work for her. So she'd hired him temporarily. Her eye twitches. Hiring him was the worst decision she's ever made. If only she'd known how much of a snooping- blackmailing- criminal he was.

"He isn't the type to miss work," she continues, sounding disappointed. Maybe he's gone back to whatever hell he crawled out of. "I miss him," she whispers, even though no one can hear them. "He was easy on the eyes," she sighs.

"Queenie," Katherine rebukes. "What? He was. . . Well, you wouldn't understand, your husband is perfect," Katherine and Eleanor both blush. "Anyway, I suppose I'll give him a call later. . . Or, Elly, have you seen him?" She asks, looking directly at Eleanor.

"Uh, no. No, I haven't," Queenie nods and starts to say something when Katherine cuts in: "I need to speak to you," her eyes are on Eleanor. Queenie looks from Eleanor to Katherine curiously. "Alone." Queenie, who clearly would rather stay and watch the show reluctantly nods "I'll go find something to drink," she walks away.

Once she's out of earshot, Eleanor mocks with a sarcastic laugh "Kat?" Katherine sighs heavily, "look, eonni, I'm not here to fight with you,"
"Ok," she replies flatly. Katherine closes her eyes and lets out a long breath before continuing, "I'm here to apologise," Eleanor blinks incredulously. "I'm sorry about last week's dinner. The way that I behaved and what I said was unacceptable," she smooths non-existent creases on her satin dress "I shouldn't have said those things about you or Daisy. So, for my role in that train wreck of a dinner, I apologise."

Eleanor huffs, not knowing what to say, she would've never in a thousand years expected her to apologise. For the second time this month, her sister has rendered her speechless. Katherine waits a beat before asking: "Don't you have something to say to me?"

Eleanor opens her mouth to speak when she notices Heath standing a few meters away- observing their interaction. Of course, he must've put her up to this. She clenches her jaw. What a joke.

"No, I don't," Eleanor says dismissively.

"Really? What is the matter with you?" She asks, louder than Eleanor would have preferred. The stares from onlookers implore Katherine to lower her voice. "I know you did not mean what you said. I would appreciate it if you admitted that you said some things that weren't very nice," she whisperers, her voice cracking with emotion. Eleanor remains defiant, crossing her hands on her chest, saying: "And why do you think I did not mean it?"

"Eonni," Katherine pleads with tears in her eyes. "Who are you?" If Eleanor had received a dollar for every time Katherine asked her that, she would have been able to pay the gardener much sooner.

"Because you are not my sister. The Eleanor I know would never have said that to me," Katherine sobs as a cascade of tears roll down her face. The stares from onlookers on get more intense. Eleanor forces a tight smile, trying to maintain a facade of normalcy. "Katherine," she says, placing a hand on her shoulder. "No!" Katherine slaps her hand away harshly, causing the ever-increasing crowd around them to begin whispering amongst themselves, including Queenie whose eyes seem ready to pop out of her head. Eleanor breaths out shakily, knowing she has lost control of the situation. She looks over at Heath pleadingly. He quickly approached them. "You need to apologize, Eleanor."

Eleanor grimaces. Wishing the ground would open up and swallow her whole. There's only one way to stop this, "I'm sorry," she returns the hand on her sister's shoulder- this time she doesn't swat it away. "I'm sorry about what I said. You're right, it was horrible. Just because your life and values are. . ." She trails off searching for the right word. "Different from mine, doesn't make them any less significant." with that, Katherine, as if on cue- stops crying and reluctantly pulls Eleanor in for a hug before she can protest. It's a brief one, but a hug no less. Eleanor sighs, suddenly feeling lighter. Maybe apologizing does help, however, forced it may be. Heath reaches them just as they let go of each other.

"Cole!" She grabs him by the elbow- pulling him to a corner.

"What happened to your face?" She asks, lifting a finger to his right eye- he flinches away before contact is made. "It looks worse than it feels," he says. "That's not what I asked," she grumbles. "I ran into some trouble," her eyes widen.

"There's nothing to worry about," he says, before she has time to panic. "I'm fine, everything is fine" he adds.

"And what are you telling people who ask about your face?" She once again raises a finger to try and touch it, like it's a glaring red button begging to be pushed. He grabs her wrist before she can, "I'm telling them I ran into some trouble disposing of a body," He says, deadpan.

"Cole!" She rebukes sharply. "Lower your voice!"

"Relax, it's a joke," Although, he himself does not laugh.

"Everything is fine. Go back to the party." He lets's go of her wrist and walks away- ignoring the distrustful look in her eyes.

Daisy bites her lower lip anxiously. Why would he come to an event half the town is at, looking like he'd fought a feral cat? Surely, he understands he would draw attention. She has to convince him to head home and stay home until he looks better. And how dare he walk away from her before she could ask him about the Luke situation?

Annoyed, she lifts the train of her dress and decides to follow him. "Daisy," he calls after her, Daisy turns and meets his eyes and her mouth involuntarily falls open. The last time they'd spoken he looked disheveled, now Luke just about takes what little breath she has away.

He folds his hands tightly across his well-tailored dress suit. The suit, in a classic shade of charcoal grey, fits him immaculately and outlines his strong silhouette. She swallows as he strides towards her, exuding sensual confidence and refinement. Cole can wait.

Lucas walks towards Daisy, the only person who truly knows him and his dysfunctional family. His family is the last thing on his mind. As much as he hates these events, he always looks forward to what she'll wear to them. And like always, she hasn't let him down.

"Hey," she says, nervously. Hey? That's what she has to say? "Hey," he returns the greeting. She leans forward and plants a fleeting kiss on his lips, and for a moment, he can smell her enthralling perfume before she pulls away. "You look great," she smiles at him, and suddenly, he forgets why he'd been so angry with her.

"I need to talk to you about something," she glances around making sure no one is listening in. "Oh?" He raises an eyebrow, "You trying to break up with me again?" He adds, his tone harsher than he'd intended.

"No," she shakes her head, and his muscles relaxes. "I don't know, I-. . . What do you know?" She blurts out. She doesn't know?

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"What?"

"What do you mean you don't know?"

Her hands go to her temples and she lightly messages them.

"Look," she starts, "I have a lot going on, and I don't have time for this. So, I would really appreciate it if we didn't do this. . .back and forth right now."

His expression changes into something that makes her grimace.

"I just want to know what it is you were trying to blackmail me with?" She explains, stepping towards him and confidently folding her arms under her chest. He unconsciously watches her exposed chest rises and fall.

"Luke!" She snaps her fingers in his face, making him realise he'd zoned out "We can't talk here," he grabs her by the wrist gently and walks her to his room.

Once inside his room- the one he'd grown up in. The one he'd lost his virginity in at the ripe age of sixteen to the woman standing before him-he begins unbuttoning his suit jacket- taking it off and tossing it across the room. Daisy watches in awe as he unbuttons his dress shirt. He smirks.

"W-what do you think you're doing?" She stutters.

"What else?" He grins- and unbuckles his belt.

"I didn't come here to fuck you, Luke," she says in an annoyed tone. "No?" He steps out of his pants.

"No."

He looks at her face, and it says the complete opposite.

She rolls her eyes and starts to walk in the direction of the door. He catches up to her in three long strides, blocking the entrance with his body.

"You want to talk, alright then. Let's talk," he leans against the door in nothing but his boxer briefs that are tight around his crouch, accentuating his erection. He watches her swallow and bite her lip while not so discreetly staring at his cock.

He crosses his hands on his chest and smiles arrogantly.

"Well?" She looks up at him with flustered rosy cheeks. "Talk," he says.

"Well. . . Well. Yesterday. . .y-you," she stutters, shaking her head as if trying to push dirty thoughts away.

"Well, you'd said you knew what I'd done, and I didn't get the chance to ask you what you meant because you'd left so suddenly," she meets his gaze with curious eyes and brushes a strand of hair behind her ear. He tenses.

"Daisy," he says in a serious tone. "I thought you'd come clean. And tell me outright- b-beg for forgiveness," he scoffs, "but clearly you have no dignity, no shame and no self-respect!" He fumes. His earlier arousal evaporating.

"What are you talking about. . ." She whines. Seriously? She is either an excellent liar, or he'd hallucinated the whole thing.

"I saw you." After a long pause, he adds, "I saw you flirting with that man, the gardener," he laughs, but there's no humour in it.

"I saw you get into his car, and I followed you,"

"You followed me?!"

"He took you to his shack" he says venomously, not caring about her interruption.

"I know what you did, slut!" she flinches at the word. "I know you had sex with that. . .that peasant" his voice trembles "Do you know how hard it was for me? Resisting the urge to burst in there, rip you off him and kill you both with my bare hands?" his body trembles with rage.

"Do you know? I could hear you from the fucking street," he bangs a fist against the door- making her jump, "It disgusted me. I thought I was going to be sick. Talking about it now, makes me sick! If I'd been there a minute more, he'd be dead."

Oh, but he is. Daisy lowers her gaze, covering her mouth with her hand-trying hard to hold back a laugh. Is that it? She thinks. Is that all he knows? No, she can't laugh. She has to hold it together.

Who was he going to tell, her father? Sure, he would be displeased, but he would get over it. She's his daughter and the only person he genuinely cares about. Did he really try to blackmail her with such a trifling matter? Christ. He must've been at his wits end.

She looks up at him with her lips pressed into a thin line. She doesn't trust herself to speak without laughing hysterically.

"Don't you have anything to say?" His voice breaks. "How could you, Dais?" Her chest constricts at his pained expression and she softens. She'd hurt him the last thing she'd wanted to do. She doesn't find it amusing anymore- she had to do it, she did it to protect her mother, her family. If she told him that, would understand? "I'm sorry," she says, raising her palm to his cheek. He leans into it. "I- I had no choice-" he looks at her sharply. "What? What do you mean?" It's then she realises she has an opportunity to spin this.

"He coerced and threatened me," her voice faltering. "He said he had some damning information on my dad, something about his business transactions. He said he'd give it to the press if I didn't satisfy him." she begins to cry. "I believed him, Luke. I-I didn't even bother to confirm what it was he had on him. I'd been too scared and panicked," she throws herself onto him, "It was s-so scary, I'm sorry. I've been incredibly stupid. I should've talked to someone before leaving with him. . . I just I couldn't-" she breaks off, sobbing uncontrollably.

He grabs and holds her firmly in his arms silently, soothing her. Visibly stunned by her revelation. Daisy smirks against his chest wondering if her performance is Oscar worthy.

"That bastard," he seethes. "I should've gone in there and killed him, I should've"- "I'm so sorry Dais, I was there, and I couldn't protect you" he holds her tighter, and she cries more hysterically.

"We have to tell someone. I'll talk to my mother she'll know what to do. Or your cousin, Cole. He's with Caper PD. Or your...your mother!" he starts to ramble and Daisy stiffens. The last thing she needs is her mother finding out, Eleanor would easily see right through her lies.

"No!" She interjects sharply.

"Please. No, Luke- I can't have anyone finding out. It'll ruin me. I would rather not be known as 'The girl who got tricked and taken advantage of' it'll ruin me." She repeats, breaking their contact. "You know what this towns like."

"Dais, we can't let him get away with this. He raped you. I can't -"

"This isn't about you!" He blinks at her tone, "I know you're probably disgusted by me right now. But you're the only one I trust with this. I haven't even told my mother or Lena. Yo-you can't- please, you can't." She breaks down, her body jerking as she sobs.

"You don't disgust me," he says gently. "I won't tell anyone, but I can't promise I won't beat that repulsive cockroach to death if I ever see him." He clenches his jaw.

You won't see him, no one will.

"Thank you," she looks up at him, proud of her acting skills.

"I love you, Luke. Only you, I need you to know that," she kisses him deeply. "I know," he says against her lips, his pupils dilating. "So love me," she pleads, firmly placing his hand on her breast. And he does, slow and passionate-it's an hour before they leave the room.