Logan is just staring at Jessica, dropping his accent. “Your eyes are just like your daughter’s,” he tells her.
Jessica slowly turns to look at him. She’s a little flustered, “I’ve heard people say before that Penelope and I do have similar eyes.” She finishes cleaning up the broken cup and sits back down, “So, what was this you needed to discuss with me about the twins?”
Without missing a beat, Logan’s accent is back in play, “Well, you see, the thing about Cross and Penelope. They got themselves wrapped up in a little incident at the college.”
Jessica seems concerned, “An incident? What kind of incident?”
Logan just shakes his head, “You like in such a fancy house like this, but those two are a complete mess.”
Sebastian has walked into the room but hasn’t been seen as of yet.
Logan places his phone on the table and starts the video.
Jessica’s hand goes to her mouth as she watches Cross beat up Justin in the boxing ring. When Justin falls to the mat, Jessica just closes her eyes in shame.
“They say that kids tend to mirror what their parents do,” Logan suggests. “I guess you aren’t that great of a mom, now are you? They aren’t even kids anymore, are they? And here they are lynching their schoolmate.” Logan’s tone gets downright angry now as he lets Jessica have it. “They beat him up. Threatened him. It’s a damn shame.”
Jessica looks like she means it when she tells him, “I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say.”
“From what I’ve heard, something like this happened before they even started college,” Logan presses on. “What was her name again?” He acts for a moment like he’s thinking about it, then nods his head, “Layla Kwon. That’s her name, right?”
When he looks up at Jessica, she’s looking at him now.
Logan has a purpose, “They bullied that girl. I saw it all over the Internet.”
Jessica isn’t going to talk about Layla with this stranger, “How is the boy? Justin, right? Was he hurt badly?”
“Well, his physical wounds will heal,” Logan tells her. “The mental wounds, well, that’s a different story altogether. That boy is going to be traumatized every day he comes to school. That’s why I’m considering bringing this before the School Violence Committee. We need to nip this right in the bud. Teach them kids of yours a real lesson.”
Logan nearly leaps out of his seat when Sebastian speaks, having snuck up on them. “I think you can speak with me on that.”
“Well, I’ll be. You must be Cross and Penelope’s father!” Logan says, a big grin on his face. “My name is Logan Lee, and I am your twins’ assistant homeroom teacher.”
Logan's grin slowly fades when Sebastian doesn’t so much as move a muscle as he stares at the teacher.
The clacking of heels is heard as someone makes their way towards Zoey, Amber, and Angel.
The woman approaches, and Amber, in her sweetest voice, asks, “Are you the new resident?”
“Welcome!” says Angel with a big smile.
All three smiles fade when the woman removes her sunglasses. “Hi there. I’m moving into the empty condo on the 45th floor.”
All three pairs of mouths drop open at the same time.
“Riley Oh?” asks Zoey.
Riley smiles back at her, “I hope we can get along, Zoey Skye.”
Gone are the thrift store clothing, as Riley looks completely different in her designer dress and shoes. A gold watch adorns her wrist, diamond earrings dangling from her earlobes, and even her hair looks different, which may explain how they didn’t recognize her at first.
Amber starts to get angry, “Is this woman out of her mind? What nonsense is this?” She glances up and begins to yell, “Security! Stop this woman from moving in here!”
“That’s right,” Angel tells her. “Not just anyone can move into Madison Tower. You need a letter of recommendation and then….”
Riley interrupts them, “You mean, something like this?” She holds up a green binder with the Madison Tower logo on it.
Angel and Amber’s eyes go wide as Zoey snatches the folder out of Riley’s hand. As she opens it, her mouth drops open once more when she reads what it says.
“This resident is allowed to move into Madison Tower.”
It was signed by Sebastian Gaston.
Amber is leaning towards Zoey, Angel is leaning towards Amber as they both say out loud, “Sebastian Gaston?!”
Riley grins at the trio, “Do you understand how things are going to be now?”
“Did Sebastian Gaston get a concussion or something?” asks Amber. “Has dementia started?”
Zoey just giving Riley the death glare, but Riley is playing it cool as she just smiles.
Amber certainly isn’t finished, “How could he let someone like her move into this palace?”
Angel nudges Amber, “She’s going to be your neighbor too.”
Amber had already forgotten that part, “I have to live across the hall from this wench? Are you kidding me?”
Zoey finally interrupts her, “Call him. Call him right now,” she tells Amber. “I won’t let her take one more step in here until I hear it from him.” She steps right up to Riley until she’s nose to nose with her rival, “Don’t you dare move from this spot.”
Riley just smirks. She already knows how this is going to end.
“Take a look,” Sebastian tells Logan as he places a wooden box on the table in front of him. The box is lined in gold and looks like it alone cost a pretty penny.
Logan seems intrigued and reaches for it, slowly lifting the lid.
Inside are three gold bars. Logan looks offended as he turns back to Sebastian, “Are you trying to bribe me now?”
They are alone in Sebastian’s study. Sebastian just shrugs, “It depends on how you want to look at it. You could think of it as a bribe or perhaps as a token of friendship.”
“So, let me get this straight,” Logan tries to read it back, “You want me to take this here gift and cover up what happened at the school?”
That sounds about right to Sebastian.
Logan slams the lid down on the box as he scowls at Sebastian, “And if I refuse?”
Sebastian’s cocky grin gets wider, “No. You’ll take it. If you had really wanted justice, you’d have reported the incident to the Department of Education. You wouldn’t have come here. Am I wrong, Mr. Lee?”
Logan purses his lips a little, and he reaches down, opening up the box again to see the golden bars. He lets out an exasperated sigh as he carefully decides how to proceed at this point.
Meanwhile, Sebastian is watching him intently. He almost feels like this Lee character is going to refuse him.
Logan runs a finger across his mustache and then turns it into a thumbs up. “Wow.” Logan grins, “Bravo, Mr. Gaston.” He begins to laugh outrageously.
Sebastian also begins to laugh along with him.
Logan points at him, “You have great instinct, Mr. Gaston.” He picks up the box, “I guess there’s nothing more that needs to be done here, am I right?”“I knew we could come to an understanding, Mr. Lee,” Sebastian tells him. He holds his hand out, “If you’ll just allow me the honor of deleting that video.”
Logan nods his head enthusiastically, “Well, of course, you should. You are a very thorough man, Mr. Gaston.” He pulls his phone out of his pocket and hands it over. As Sebastian deletes the video, a picture of Logan appears on the screen.
“Not too many take my money and ignore my wishes,” Sebastian warns him in a friendly way.
Logan nods his head, “That wouldn’t surprise me one little bit.” As Sebastian hands the phone back over to Logan, Logan tells him, “I definitely got your point.” He puts his phone back into his pocket.
“I am an investor,” Sebastian tells him. “I only invest in things that have value. It won’t take me long to find out if you’ll take my hand and move forward or grab my ankle and try to hold me back.”
Logan continues to grin, “You never know, I could very well be exactly what you’re looking for, or the very last thing you’d ever want to find.” Logan laughs uproariously, “I’m only kidding!”
Sebastian isn’t finding Logan as amusing as Logan finds Logan amusing. Sebastian’s phone rings.
“Hello?”
“You need to come down quickly,” Chris tells him on the phone. “It’s a total mess down here.”
Sebastian glances at Logan before answering Chris, “I’m on my way.”
Chris is inspecting that document that Riley has, “This is….” He glances up at her, “Did you really buy a condo in this building?” He can’t believe it. “Is this recommendation card for real?”
Riley is offended, “Are you saying I forged that card or something?”
Angel points at Riley, “If you forged that card, we’re calling the police!”
Riley turns to Angel, “Me and my daughter are moving into this building. I bought and paid for it with my own money according to the law. How dare you treat me like a criminal.”
Zoey knows this can’t possibly be true. She’s finding this entire charade very amusing. She’s also looking forward to seeing Riley Oh thrown out of this building on her ass. “Would you believe this preposterous story if you were us?” she asks Riley.
Riley’s eyes dart to Zoey.
Zoey tells her, “There’s no way Sebastian Gaston would recommend….”
“It’s true,” Sebastian tells them as he walks into the lobby. Jessica is standing by his side and Logan behind them a few feet. “I signed the card.”
Four sets of eyes turn on Sebastian as they just can’t believe this has happened. No one is more shocked than Zoey Kline.
Smug looks are exchanged between Jessica and Riley.
Logan isn’t sure what’s going on, but he’s going to stick around and find out.
“It’s true?” Zoey asks.
“How much do you think I should ask for?” Riley asks on the yacht the day before.
Jessica grins at the question, “I have an idea.”
Riley seems curious.
Jessica turns her smug expression towards Riley, “It’s something we both would benefit from.”
Riley is definitely curious, “What is it?”
Jessica has been waiting for this moment for a while now, “Tell them you’ll trade the property for a condo in Madison Tower.”
“Madison Tower?” Riley’s eyes go wide. Of course, they’ve talked about it, but never in a million years would Riley have dreamed it could come true. “What are you talking about?”
“Madison Tower?” Sebastian is sure he heard that wrong. “Did you just say you wanted to move into Madison Tower?”
Riley nods her head, “I mean, it’s well within your right to say no. But that is my final offer. If you decide to change your mind, you just give me a call, huh?”
Riley stands up and starts to walk off when Sebastian calls out, “Madison Tower isn’t just a place for anyone, Ms. Oh.”
Riley turns back to him, “Oh, I’m well aware of all that, Mr. Gaston. One needs a resident’s recommendation and approval. However,” Riley continues, “A recommendation from you will guarantee acceptance. No questions asked.”
This is a big ask, and Sebastian knows it. He also knows many are not going to be pleased if he goes through with this. Zoey, for one. He lets out a huge sigh.
“The moment the condo title is put in my name, I will sign over my deed to you,” Riley tells him.
So, as Sebastian stands there, “I felt it in the best interest of Madison Tower that Riley Oh and her daughter join us. It is well within my right as the majority shareholder in this building. In fact, I really don’t need to explain myself to any of you. Our kids all go to the same school, so they should get along.”
“The best interest of Madison Tower?” asks Amber as Zoey just murders Sebastian in her mind. Amber just shakes her head, “What nonsense are you talking about? Mr. Gaston, are you trying to ruin Madison Tower?”
Sebastian is getting annoyed at being questioned. This was the only way to save everyone’s money.
When Sebastian doesn’t answer her question, Amber turns on Chris, “Did you know about this?”
Angel’s eyes go wide as she looks at her husband, “Honey?”
“No!” shouts Chris. He wasn’t privy to any of this before right this moment. “This was Sebastian’s decision and his decision alone. Don’t you blame me. I had no part in this.” He turns and points his finger at Sebastian, “How could you?” He walks over and murmurs, “You could have at least given me a heads up here.”
“If this is all settled, may I continue to have my things brought in?” Riley asks, enjoy every moment of this. “We have quite a bit, and we’d like to get it all sorted before the evening. I am looking forward to getting along with everyone.”
Riley walks up and looks like she’s going to whisper something into Zoey’s ear, and she does. “Could you move out of my way?” Riley nudges her hard with her shoulder.
As Zoey staggers back, her mouth drops open.
Riley walks by Jessica, almost laughing as Jessica just grins widely at her.
“How dare you let that woman move in here without so much as a word to me?” Zoey yells.
Zoey demanded to speak with Sebastian, and so they were in her music room.“You know how much I hate that woman and yet, you…” she seethes, “You stabbed me in the back!”
Sebastian isn’t even looking at Zoey as he stares out the window, “Just calm down,” he ways rather nonchalantly.
“Calm down? Did you just tell me to calm down?” Zoey stalks towards him. “I don’t care what it cost you! You should have told her to fuck off!”
Sighing now, somewhat annoyed, Sebastian turns around to face her now. “Do you think I wanted this? It was strictly a business deal, and I had no choice.” He’s raising his voice now. There’s a part of him that’s angry with himself for letting him be bullied by Riley Oh. He hasn’t been spoken to like that in a very long time.
Zoey just scoffs as she turns to walk away from him.
“You know what? If you want to complain, perhaps you should go complain to your husband,” Sebastian tells her. “He was the one who played the biggest role in getting her moved in here!”
Well, that was unexpected. Zoey spins around to look at Sebastian. “What did you say?”
Sebastian approaches her, “Your husband. He seems to have a soft spot for Riley Oh. It seems they have a very special relationship.”
Zoey’s teeth are clenched, “Tell me exactly what happened. Do not leave out a single detail.”
Juliana and Carson are walking into Madison Tower. Juliana glances behind her when she hears steps, thinking it’s one of the other rich kids, but instead, confusion spreads across her face when she sees Mariah.
When she follows them around the corner to the elevators, Juliana and Carson are blocking her path.
“Are you here to see Cross again?” asks Juliana. “I’ll never understand why he lowers himself to spend time with her.”
Carson shrugs, “Besides, these elevators are for residents only.”
Mariah doesn’t at all seem intimidated by them. “I’m heading home.”
Confusion crosses Juliana’s face, “What are you talking about? Home?”
Mariah just walks by her and places her key card against the sensor as the door opens.
Juliana just can’t believe it.
Grinning widely, Mariah nudges Juliana, “If you’ll step aside.”
Carson and Juliana watch Mariah get into the elevator with their mouths nearly on the floor.
Juliana is even more in shock as she ends up following Mariah down the same hallway. As Mariah stops in front of the condo across from her place, Juliana just knows it’s a crock of shit, but her mouth pops open once again when the light turns green on the door when Mariah swipes her card.
Mariah turns and just smiles at Juliana oh so sweetly before walking into the condo.
Juliana runs full speed into the apartment, “Mom! Mom! Mom!”
Her mother is pacing, holding her head like she has a headache, but that doesn’t stop her from yelling, “Mariah Oh just went into the condo across the hall from ours! Tell me it’s a prank. It’s a dream? Right? Say it!”
Amber finally spins on her daughter, “Be quiet! You’re being too loud,” she mutters. She’s obviously not taking the news of her new neighbors well either. “I’m trying to think here.”
“Wait, wait, wait. So, she really lives here now?” whines Juliana.
Amber suddenly stops and snaps her fingers, “Idea!”
Mariah’s eyes go wide as she walks into the apartment for the first time. She removes her backpack and sets it on the table, “No way!”
Jessica rises from her chair, and Riley grins at Mariah’s excitement.
Mariah begins running around, squealing. She’s never been in a place as big as this before in her entire life. “It’s so pretty!” she says, still in shock.
She finally runs back to Riley, “Is this really our house now? Do we really live at Madison Tower?” She clutches her mother’s hands. “And all this furniture is out?” she’s bouncing up and down excitedly.
Riley just beams, “It’s really ours! Do you want to see your room?”
Mariah’s eyes go wide, “Yes! Where is it?”
Riley moves in behind Mariah, “Close your eyes,” though Riley uses her hands to cover Mariah’s eyes.
Jessica watches with a big smile at the two as Riley slowly leads Mariah towards the girl’s bedroom.
As they walk through the door, Riley moves her hands away, “Look.”
Mariah’s eyes open, and then they open even wider as she squeals. Her room is definitely huge. A new bed. A new desk. A bookcase and dressers. There are paintings on the wall. As Mariah takes it all in, she asks, “This whole room is mine? Everything is so pretty!
Riley just laughs at her daughter’s excitement.
“Mom,” Mariah tells her. “This isn’t a dream, right? Pinch my cheek.”
Riley grins, “It’s not a dream!” But, she reaches over and pinches both of Mariah’s cheeks, causing the girl to cry out. They stop for a moment, and then they begin to squeal and jump around together as Jessica slowly walks into the room, grinning at the two.
As Mariah continues to look around, Riley turns and grins at Jessica, who grins right back.
“What is this?” Mariah asks. There’s something in the corner of the room covered with a cloth and has a giant bow on it.
Riley motions towards Jessica, “That is a gift to you from Mrs. Gaston. Check it out.”
Mariah turns to look at Jessica and then walks over to the covered gift and pulls back the sheet to expose a baby grand piano. Mariah just gasps.
“A piano?”
Jessica asks, “Do you like it? I wanted to give you something as a moving-in present. I thought you might appreciate this.”
Mariah just stands there, words not coming to her.
“I hope you become a great singer, Mariah,” Jessica tells her.
Mariah is near tears now, “Thank you so much, ma’am. Thank you! It’s the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I’ve always wanted a piano.” She walks up and runs her hands over the white surface. “I’ll practice like crazy!” she promises. “I’m so happy!”
“Play something,” Riley encourages her daughter.
Mariah pulls out the bench and slowly takes a seat. She slowly lifts the cover to the piano keys. Mariah places her fingers on the keys and begins to play “Nocturne” by Chopin.
But as Jessica watches, she doesn’t see Mariah playing the piano.
She sees Layla there.
Tears begin to fill her eyes as she imagines her daughter there playing this piece.
Jessica: Layla. My lovely daughter.
Riley brings over two cups of coffee to the dinner table.
“I thought you might be a little busy getting situated, so I brought some dinner,” Jessica tells her. “I hope you don’t mind.”
As the two ladies sit down at the table, Riley shakes her head, “We could have just ordered take-out, you know? You didn’t need to go through all this trouble.” He takes a fork and takes a bite of the food. After chewing it for a moment, she makes an ugly face. “My God. You’re a good cook, too?”Jessica laughs.
“It’s like you got the winning lottery ticket of lifeskills,” Riley pouts a little. “Seriously, though. You have been a lifesaver and a lucky charm for me and my daughter, Jessica. I don’t even know how I could possibly begin to thank you.”
Jessica just shakes her head, “Stop already with so much praise. Really, it’s too much.”
Riley takes another bite and just enjoys it, “It’s so good.”
Meanwhile, Jessica slides back her chair and stands up, “You have everything arranged so neatly here.”
Riley gets up out of her chair and rushes over, grabbing Jessica around the side and hugging her, “Have I said thank you already? I don’t know where I’d be without you. I will never forget what you’ve done for me.”
Jessica shakes her head, “You really don’t owe me anything. You’ve already been through so much. You’re starting out on the 45th floor, but if you keep investing wisely, you’ll move up to the 60th, 70th, and maybe one day you’ll be neighbors on the 85th floor with Zoey Kline” she teases a little about that last part.
Riley is grinning from ear to ear.
“Don’t tell me you’re going to shoot for my penthouse!” Jessica asks her.
Riley gasps, “Why would you ever say something like that?”
Jessica just laughs.
“I could never even consider living in the penthouse,” Riley tells her in all seriousness.
Amber claps her hands together, “And that’s my idea! What do you think?”
Amber is over at the Letter residence. After her most recent brainstorm, she had to rush and tell someone.
Angel’s eyes go wide as she gasps, “You are so right! Why didn’t I think of that? We are on the board for Madison Tower for a reason. If we gather enough votes, we can get her kicked out.”
Chris doesn’t seem too thrilled about this idea for the time being.
“Let’s see,” Amber continues, “If we exclude the two at the penthouse, we still have Dr. and Mrs. Kline, the two of you and myself. That alone is more than half of the board members. She’ll barely have time to unpack before she has to pack right back up.”
Angel claps her hands, “This is going to work out perfectly!” She turns to Chris, “Why aren’t you saying anything? You agree with us, right?”
“Do you really think Dr. Kline will vote your way? Have you even talked with him?” Chris asks. “Without his vote, everything is tied.”
Amber scoffs, “There’s no need to ask. Mrs. Kline and Ms. Oh hate one another with a passion. I expect there’s going to be a fist fight at some point if we don’t get that woman out of here.”
Knowing what Chris knows already, he just shakes his head, “I have a feeling there’s going to be a fight alright, but it’s not going to be who you think.”
Kyle walks into the condo, and Zoey is sitting stoically on the couch. He tries to walk right on by without a word, but Zoey’s voice stops him.
“You knew, didn’t you?” she asks.
Kyle stops walking but doesn’t yet look at her.
Zoey continues, “You know Riley Oh was moving into Madison Tower, didn’t you?”
Kyle finally turns to look at her, though it’s hard to read his expression at the moment.
Zoey just nods her head when he doesn’t answer. She seems a little solemn tonight. Melancholy. “Did you instigate this arrangement?”
Kyle just shakes his head, “Not in the least. I was not consulted when Sebastian signed that recommendation letter. I only heard about it after the fact.” Kyle does seem a little happy about all of this now.
“Wow,” Zoey tells him. “Is that the biggest lie you’ve told me so far in our marriage? That expression on your face right now gives you away. Does this please you?”
Kyle, again, doesn’t answer. He just smirks down at his wife.
“Let me make one thing clear,” Zoey tells him. “I won’t stand it to see that woman every morning and every evening.”
Kyle’s expression changes to amusement, “Is that so? It really doesn’t look like you have a choice in the matter. Sebastian Gaston’s word is the law around here.”
“You think we aren’t going to find a way to get rid of her?” Zoey asks him. She finally rises from her seat and approaches him. “I’m living in complete torture right now. Like the returning of an old nightmare that you thought you’d gotten over. Now, that nightmare is driving me crazy.”
Kyle just shakes his head, “That was over twenty years ago. You won’t be able to use that as a reason to make her leave.”
“How interesting,” Zoey tells him. “Am I really the only person who finds this unnerving? You look very pleased now that Riley is finally living in comfort. Do you really feel that sorry for her?”
Kyle’s smile fades.
“Did you love her so much that you’ve felt guilty all this time after you left her for me?” she finally screams out at him.
Kyle grits his teeth, “You shut your damned mouth. You’re about to cross a line, and I won’t stand for it.”
Zoey isn’t going to stop as she continues to scream. “I know you kept a fire burning in your heart for her, even while you were getting married to me!”
As Kyle stands there fuming, he recalls something from back in college.
Riley has laid out quite a little picnic. She’s sitting on a blanket while Kyle is lying on the grass with his head in her lap.
“You were up late studying last night,” Riley told him. “I brought you a change of clothes. Also,” she tells him as she digs into her purse for an envelope, “I got my paycheck. Make sure you pay your room fee.” She sets the envelope on his chest.
He reaches for it and sits up, “I wish you’d stop giving me money.”
Riley shakes her head, “It’s really not all that much. I won’t have you struggling as you go through medical school.”
Kyle sighs, “When I become a doctor, I’m going to make sure you’re always taken care of.” He motions to her neck, “I’m going make sure that scar is removed.”
Riley pulls her collar over her scar a bit self-consciously.
Behind them, a familiar face walks by as Zoey Skye sees them. She watches them, perhaps a little twang of jealousy.
“Let’s eat,” Riley tells him as she reaches over and picks up a piece of toast and offers to feed it to Kyle, who graciously takes a bit.
“It’s so good!” Kyle tells her.
As the two begin to eat, Zoey makes a phone call.
“Father? It’s me. About the foundation scholarship? I think I know just the perfect candidate. He studies medicine.”
A week later, Riley is waiting around the corner for Kyle near his apartment. She can hear him walking up the street. He’s had a bit to drink, but that’s not why she’s here now.
For whatever reason, Kyle has suddenly ghosted her.
When Kyle starts to walk past her, she steps out and into his path, “What’s going on, Kyle? Did you get the scholarship? I heard you even went to a party and took pictures with the director. Why wouldn’t you tell me? Why haven’t you returned any of my phone calls?”
Kyle slurs out his response. “I couldn’t refuse to attend the party when they gave me a scholarship,” he explains. “It’s not that big of a deal.” As if that’s it, he starts to walk off, but Riley grabs him by the arm.
“Is that your excuse?” she asks. “Who told you that you had to take dirty money to become a doctor? I would have thought anyone else would do this. I never thought it would be you.”
Kyle is getting annoyed now, “Dirty money? There’s no such thing as dirty money, Riley.” His voice raises at the end, and he realizes it. “I’m sorry. I haven’t slept in days, and I’m really tired.” He starts back up the hill.
Riley runs after him and grabs his arm, “Kyle Kline! You return that money right away! I want you to go throw that money right in Zoey Skye’s face!”
“What do you want me to do?!” screams Kyle back at her. “My parents can’t afford to send me to school! My family is so poor, there’s no way I can borrow money!” He lowers his voice and almost apologetically explains, “I have to swallow my pride on this one. Can’t you just understand that? Why do you always act so inferior?”
Riley is taken aback by that statement. “How could you say that to me?” Tears begin to roll down her cheek, and Kyle realizes he’s fucked up. “You’re going to take money from the girl who did this to my neck? You know what she did to me, Kyle Kline, and now you’re kissing up to that family? They were all involved. The fact that you’re involved with that family at all? I’d rather be dead.”
Kyle throws all his stuff onto the ground angrily, “Will you stop talking about Zoey Skye?” he yells at her now. “Just stop already! I’m so tired that everything in your life is about Zoey Skye!” With that, he turns and storms up the stairs to his apartment.
“Kyle Kline!” Riley screams at him. “Kyle Kline!”
Riley drops to her knees and just sobs.
Kyle must have called Zoey later that evening because it isn’t long before they sit at a bar. Kyle has already had a few drinks. Zoey is obviously not a drinker. She would take her shot glass and take a tiny sip, then gag and gets the drink back down on the bar.
She’s not sure why he called her here. He hasn’t said a word about why he’s here getting plastered, but when Kyle goes to pour himself another drink, Zoey reaches over and takes his hands, “Please, stop drinking.”
Kyle pulls the bottle from her hand, “I’m fine.” He fills the glass and drinks it all down while Zoey watches him, cringing.
“Damn it,” Kyle finally says. “What am I supposed to do?” he spits out.
Zoey seems sincere when she tells him, “Being a medical student is hard enough. Why do you need to live with such a burden?”
Kyle doesn’t answer. Instead, he refills his shot glass.
“I am willing to give you everything,” Zoey tells him.
Kyle looks up at her, confusion written across his face.
Suddenly, Zoey leans in and kisses him on the lips.
“You just wait and see,” Zoey tells him as we return back to the present. “Who do you think will remain at Madison Tower? I will do whatever it takes to make sure that Riley Oh leaves this place.”
“Riley Oh. Riley Oh,” Kyle repeats. “It’s like a fucking broken record with you! Aren’t you sick of it? Or is it just your guilt talking?”
Zoey begins to seethe, her body trembling in anger at that little comment. She takes a step up onto the coffee table so she can tower over him. She kicks over a vase, and then reaches over and slaps Kyle hard across the face.
“You watch your damn mouth,” Zoey tells him as Kyle slowly turns his head to look back at her, his cheek already red from the slap. She’s towering over him now as she stands on that coffee table. “Unless you want to see Riley Oh or myself leave this building in a bodybag.”
She gives one more scoff before she steps down from the table and marches into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
Kyle watches her leave while he stews.
Riley is vacuuming the floor, but looking out the window, it’s definitely night.
We are made aware of that when Mariah walks out of her bedroom in her pajamas, “You’ve vacuumed so many times already today, mom. Aren’t you tired?” Hint. Someone was trying to sleep.
Riley shakes her head, “I’m not tired at all! How could anyone get tired of cleaning their own home?”
Mariah just shakes her head, “Mom,” she says a bit more seriously. “You really kept your promise. We are actually living in Madison Tower.”
Riley just smiles at her daughter, walking over and putting the vacuum cleaner away. “I never believed I would live to see such an amazing day as today. I’ve never had a day in my life where I wasn’t concerned about where my next paycheck was coming from. Now, we are completely out of debt. I don’t have to worry about rents or deposits. Isn’t it unbelievable?”
Mariah moves in and hugs her mother, “Now, all I need to do is graduate college and become a famous singer.”
Riley pulls back and smiles at her daughter, “You can do whatever your heart wants.”
Jessica is turning in her sleep. The nightmare has come again.
Jessica is going down the elevator to the party when she sees something off to the side. This time, she sees Layla Kwon being pushed over by a woman. On the woman’s hand are a ruby and diamond ring.In her nightmare, Zoey Kline has her hands around Zoey’s throat, and behind her, smiling approvingly, is Sebastian. She can hear Zoey screaming at the young girl, “Die! Die!” Then with one final push, Layla starts to fall over the side…
And Jessica’s eyes snap open.
Then she gasps when she notices Sebastian standing over her.
“Did you have a bad dream?” Sebastian asks her. He is standing up next to her bed with a drink in his hand.
Slowly, Jessica sits up, “Did I wake you?” she asks, bringing her hand to her chest as she tries to catch her breath.
Sebastian shakes his head, “I have been unable to sleep tonight.” He turns and starts to walk away from her, “Madison Tower. I have put so much work into this building. Now, its reputation is being damaged. This place was meant for only the greatest of people, not only in the city or the country but worldwide. A chance to have the greatest community ever known to man. Riley Oh has soiled that.”
Jessica seems confused, “Riley? What’s wrong with Riley being here?”
Sebastian turns back to her, “Stay away from that woman. I won’t accept you being friends with her.”
Jessica has other thoughts.
Chris is in the gym, warming up for his workout, when he spots Riley walking in. He just stares at her for a moment. He still cannot believe that she’s living here now.
Riley turns and catches him looking at her.
Chris suddenly spins away from her. Nope. He wasn’t watching her at all.
Riley smiles brightly and leans over the rail, “Hello!”
Reluctantly, Chris looks at her and gives her a nod. He turns his back on her and begins to do a few jumping jacks.
“Excuse me? Do you think you can help me?” Riley asks him. “I’ve never used any of this equipment before.”
Chris glances around, certain she’s talking to someone else.
There’s no one else.
He awkwardly crosses his arms in front of his chest, “Me?”
Riley nods her head.
Next, we see Chris doing some lateral pulls. “Just push down on these handles here,” he explains. Wanting to show off, he’s put more weight on there than he normally does, and it shows. “This one works out your pectoral major.”
Riley is watching, hands folded together and under her chin. Riley’s no dummy. She’s gotta make a few friends here. She also knows that Chris is on the Madison Tower board. “Wow. Is there anything you don’t know?” she flatters him. “It must be because you’re an attorney that you explain everything so eloquently. Well, anyway, I think you’re pretty smart.”
Chris is shaking as he continues to do the pulls, sweat dripping down his forehead, “Smart?”
“You wouldn’t mind if I came to you if I had any other questions, would you?” she asks. “Perhaps I can think of you like an older brother.”
Suddenly, Chris releases the handles, and the lat pull zips back into place as Chris staggers away from the machine. “A brother?” As he tries to catch his breath, he nods his head, “Um, sure. I guess that would be okay.”
Riley walks up to the lat pull and grabs the handles, pulling them down with ease. Turning to Chris, she gives him a grin, “We do have a special relationship, don’t we?” She begins to do the pulls and much easier than Chris had been. “I do like this better than us being strangers and all.”
Chris wipes at his forehead with a towel, “I guess you are rather nice.”
“I’ve never been to an upscale gym like this before,” Riley explains. She places the handles back where they were and walks up to him. “But, now I know who to come to if I have any questions or need any advice.”
Chris tries to strike a relaxed posture by placing one hand on the wall and leaning against it while crossing his legs.
“I’ll tell you something else,” Riley says, lowering her voice a little. “Without your glasses, you’re kinda sexy.” She gives him a wink.
Chris nearly chokes.
“But, I bet you hear that a lot,” Riley tells him. She’s laying it on pretty thick.
As she walks off, Chris is nodding his head, “Well, people tend to say I’m more on the cute side than the sexy side….”
Zoey is on her way to the college when she spots Riley walking her way. As the two meet, Zoey asks, “You’re already using the gym, are you? Enjoy your time while it lasts. It’ll be a nice but brief experience for you to cherish for the rest of your life.”
Riley doesn’t answer her until Zoey tries to walk by her, bumping against her shoulder. “Does it make you feel better to talk to me like that?” Riley turns around to look at Zoey’s back. “I’m actually rather grateful for you.”
Zoey whips around to face Riley, not sure what smart-ass thing she’s going to say. “I’d always wondered what kind of house you lived in. I’m not ashamed to admit I was envious of what you had, and I wanted it for myself. You drove me to become what I am today, so I’m grateful to you for that. Now, I’m looking to go even higher. Maybe even higher than you. The things you have. The things you have taken from me. I want all of it.”
Zoey takes a more defensive posture at these words coming from her rival.
“You better protect what you have, Zoey Skye,” Riley says as she places her hands into the pockets of her sweat pants.
Zoey takes one step, two steps, three steps towards Riley. Then she raises her hand to slap Riley, but Riley’s hand shoots up and grabs her by the wrist.
Zoey is aghast.
Riley just scoffs at her. “That’s a rather aggressive way to welcome your new neighbor, isn’t it?” Riley pushes Zoey’s hand away from her. “Is this how you treat all your neighbors in Madison Tower?”
Zoey clenches her teeth, “Stop messing with me. It’s taking everything I have not to kill you right now.”
“Why fight the urge?” Riley taunts her. “I can take anything you can dish out.” With that, Riley turns and walks off with Zoey staring daggers into her back.
Zoey throws a couple of photos on her desk. They seem to be of an elderly lady.
“Find this person,” she demands of Matthew. “I want to see her as soon as possible.”
Curious, Matthew collects the two photos and looks at them. “Is there any other information to go on?”
“None,” Zoey tells him. “She ran a linen shop in the south side ten years ago. That’s all the information I have.”
Matthew nods his head, “I’ll find her no matter what it takes.” With that, Matthew turns on his heels and steps out of the office.
Zoey slams her fist down on the desk angrily. “I will find a way to kick you out of here regardless of what it may cost me, Riley Oh.”
The school bell rings.
“That’s it for today’s performance class,” Kelly tells the classroom. “I have been asked to remind you of the audition to become the International School of Music’s Goodwill Ambassador. One male and one female will be selected.”
The class oohs as they begin to pair off. Juliana has already decided to pick Carson.
“Ambassadors are responsible for assisting with community events. All activities performed will go on their permanent record. Is there anyone who would like to audition?” Kelly continues.As hands go up, Kelly begins to take notes, “Carson Letter. Juliana Cian.”
Justin’s hand goes up, but when he notices Cross’s hand go up, he slowly lowers his hand.
Sloane’s hand is up, and so is Penelope’s.
Mariah’s hand shoots up.
“You too, Mariah?” asks Kelly.
Mariah nods her head, “Yes. I definitely want to be an ambassador.” Sloane turns to scowl at Mariah.
Kelly nods her head, “That’s very brave of you.” It’s hard to tell if that’s a compliment or an insult. “Be prepared, everyone. That’s all. You can go.”
Around the track, Mariah is still pulling cleaning duty to erase some of her penalty points. She pauses her task of picking up trash to put her hair up into a ponytail.
Cross seems to be watching her.
However, Sloane seems to be watching Cross as she walks up the steps of the bleachers towards him. She frowns as she sees him looking at Mariah.
When Mariah starts going back to picking up trash, Cross rises from his seat and spots Sloane.
They look at each other for a moment before Cross starts walking towards her. It looks like he’s going to walk by her when she speaks up.
“I have something to say.”
Cross raises an eyebrow, “So, say it.”
Suddenly, Sloane loses her nerve and doesn’t say anything.
Cross just sighs, “If you have nothing to say, I’m going to go then.”
He starts to walk by her when suddenly, Sloane blurts out, “I like you, Cross.”
Cross stops walking.
Sloane slowly turns to face Cross’s back, “I’ve liked you for a long time. I know it might be a burden to you, so that’s why I couldn’t say so until now. I can’t stand it that you like someone else.”
Cross rolls his eyes, obviously annoyed. He turns around to face Sloane, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I mean,” Sloane says, “I just confessed my feelings for you. Do you have any feelings for me?”
Cross is about to answer when Sloane interrupts, “Wait. Don’t answer it just yet. When we both become ambassadors, tell me then. I refuse to let another girl take a chance away from me. Especially Mariah Oh.”
Sloane moves by Cross, back down to the track, and hurries off as Cross watches her leave. His face is rather emotionless. From Sloane, Cross turns to watch Mariah, picking up trash.
Chris, Kyle, and Sebastian are meeting for coffee in the middle of the day. They are up high enough to look down at the piece of property they acquired from Riley.
“Regardless of what it cost us in the end, this piece of property will still bring us a profit,” Sebastian tells them.
The property looks very small in comparison to the land around it. The structure that’s built there looks like it may actually crumble at any moment.
Chris laughs, but Kyle seems confused as he flips through some paperwork, “Who is it who wants to buy this land? If they’re planning on building a shopping town here, they must be enormously wealthy.”
“What I know is that he is one of the wealthiest men around. A certified billionaire. His name is Kira Khan,” Sebastian explains.
That name seems to ring a bell for Chris, “Wait, Kira Khan?”
“He’s been in the city for a few days now. I’m trying to arrange a meeting with him,” Sebastian explains.
Chris nods, “Can I join you for that?”
Sebastian shakes his head, “I’ve already tried to get in touch but has been told he’s got meetings lined up for quite a while. He just purchased a 100-story building in Seoul.”
Both Chris and Kyle’s eyes widen.
“Someone this rich is going to be hard to reach,” Sebastian explains. “But, I’m certain I’ll get an appointment soon.”
“Wait one second,” Kyle said. “Did this Khan character just buy Hera Palace? That’s the only 100-story building I know of in Seoul.”
Sebastian just nods.
Chris gasps out a laugh.
Kyle can’t believe it. “What does this guy do that he has so much money?”
“His father was a very successful building investor,” Sebastian explains. “Kira Khan has just taken over the family business. I’m actually quite impressed. He is so filthy rich that he could single-handedly wipe out homelessness for the next three generations.”
Chris rises from his seat, “So, does this guy even know how real estate works in the US? No? Well, certainly you have some sort of plan to rip this guy off, right?”
Kyle just shakes his head, “Do you think rich people become rich by being stupid? They become rich because they doubt every little thing and trust no one.”
Sebastian just shrugs, “If this plan works, what we’ve been dealing with now would be considered pennies. That’s the only reason I agreed to let Riley Oh move into Madison Tower.”
“Speaking of which,” Chris says, turning his attention to Kyle. “Are we going to let Riley Oh continue to live at Madison Tower?”
Kyle glances up at Chris but doesn’t have an answer.
“Hmm,” Chris says, nodding his head. “Interesting.” He swings his head to look at Sebastian, “And you? Are you going to continue to let her live there?”
“Absolutely not!” Amber tells someone on the phone. “Listen, you just leave it all to me. I will take care of this. Don’t you worry, princess? Focus on your schoolwork.” Angel and Amber are walking through the lobby of Madison Tower when they see Riley walk up to the security desk.
“I’ve made you some food. I know you get hungry down here,” Riley tells them as she hands over some little boxes. “It’s just some pastries.”
One of the guards takes a box, “Thank you.”
When Riley hands one to another, that guard holds up his hand, “I’m sorry. I don’t eat pastries.” He grabs the first guy by the arm and leads him away, and whispers, “You want to get yelled at by Mrs. Kline? Eat that damned pastry.”
“Oh, you’re right,” the other guard says. Then sneakily drops his box into the waste bucket.
Angel and Amber watch this and have a giggle over it.
Of course, Riley has seen and heard it all. She gathers up the rest of the pastries and walks off, “Zoey Skye’s reach knows no bounds, it seems.” She spots Amber and Angel, “Good morning!”
Amber is quite amused, “I don’t think I’ve seen anyone ever hand out pastries when they move in before. It’s not really one of those things we do here.”
Angel snickers.
“Is that so?” Riley says, “Well, I’m still learning how things are done around here.”
Amber glances up and down Riley for a moment, “And your fashion sense is a little, how should I put it? Abstract?” She turns to Angel, “I don’t think we’ve seen that type of fashion here at Madison Tower before.”
Riley can already tell she’s being talked down to here.
Angel thinks for a moment, “There was that housekeeper one time.”
More giggling.
“I’m still doing a bit of moving in, so these are my comfortable clothing,” Riley explains. She holds out some of her pastries, “Would you two like some?”
She can barely get the words out when Amber and Angel hold out their hand.
“I don’t let my family eat processed food,” Angel explains. “My family is a bit picky about what they eat. My mother-in-law is a famous chef. I’d tell you her name, but I doubt you’ve heard of her.”
Riley is just about done here. “I can see you’re going out. Don’t let me keep you. Have fun.” Riley charges right in between the two, forcing them apart as she storms off.
Amber watches Riley leave, “We need to call Zoey right now. I think it’s time for the board to get together and kick this woman out like the dog that she is.”
Angel glances at Amber, “It must be so hard for you, living on the same floor as her.”
Amber slowly turns to look at Angel.
“That means you’re on the same level as her,” Angel reminds her.
Amber narrows her eyes, “What do you mean by “on the same level.”” She scoffs, “Once my husband comes back from Dubai, we’re moving to the 60th floor. Immediately.”
Angel knows the 60th floor is above her and Chris’s floor. She’s about to say something when Amber’s phone rings. Amber holds up her hand, “One moment.” She hurries a few feet away and answers, “Yes, I am on my way out. Take a hot bath and wait just a bit longer.”
Angel is trying her best to eavesdrop.
“I’ll relieve all of your stress,” Amber tells the person on the other end of the phone. She giggles as she hangs up the phone. She spins around to look at Angel. “I’ve gotta go.”
As Amber hurries out of Madison Tower, Angel scowls at her, watching her leave. “She’s gone crazy! She’s cheating big time!” Angel makes a face, “So disgusting!”
We are shown the outside of a day spa called “The Oasis.”
Now, a hot tub is a bit of an understatement as we see multiple small pools built. Each pool, steaming from the warm bath it provides. Candles are evenly distributed around the room, and three very well-off women enjoy their sauna-like environment.
As a timer goes off, someone claps their hands and, in a sweet voice, sings out, “Ms. Song. Your 13 minutes are up. If you join me, we can continue your treatment.”
Ms. Song is the owner of a pharmaceutical company. Older and wiser. She turns her head off-camera and smiles, “I’m on my way. And I’ve told you repeatedly to call me Mel.”