Written by: Dallas Walsh

The sun brightly shines into the master bedroom creating a warm glow of natural light as Celeste Baldwin sits at her makeup table and puts some lipstick on. She purses her lips together to ensure the colour is perfect as she realizes that in a few short hours, she will be marrying Mac Rowell, one of the richest men in the country. She never imagined in her wildest dreams that she would be marrying a Rockwell, but now that she is, she couldn't be happier. And not because of the money, but because she loves Mac more than anything else in the world.

She turns around in her chair when she hears a soft knock on the bedroom door, wondering who could be visiting her. "Come in," she says out loud as the door opens and Lucinda Rockwell emerges. While Lucinda was kind at the engagement party, Celeste knows that she can be a dangerous woman if crossed. "Oh, Mrs. Rockwell, hi."

"Hi Celeste," Lucinda says as she comes into the room. "I've already told you to call me Lucinda, I don't want to have to remind you again."

Celeste blushes from the words from her future mother in law. "You're right, I apologize. You look beautiful in your dress."

"There's no need to apologize but I appreciate the gesture," Lucinda tells her. "I wanted to see how you're doing before the ceremony. Any butterflies?"

Celeste chuckles a little. "A few," she admits to Lucinda. "If anything, today makes me miss my Mom. She died when I was young, but I feel her presence with me today."

"Of course you do," Lucinda grabs her hand. "And, I know that I will only be your mother in law, but if you treat my son right, I will be the mother you never had. At least while I'm still with you."

"Oh Lucinda," Celeste says as tears fill her eyes and she pulls the elderly woman into a hug. "Thank you for that. It means so much to me. And I hope you know, that I have every intention of being the best wife to Mac."

"That's good to hear," Lucinda replies back to her. "Because after everything Lydia put MacKenzie through, he deserves to have some happiness."

***

Outside the living room of the mansion, there is a beautiful rose garden. In the garden, there is a large statue of a man that has water coming out of his mouth that lands in the base of a fountain, where coy swim around. Next to the fountain, there is a flowered arch, where the minister stands, preparing himself for the ceremony. Chairs are lined up just south of the arch, where the expected guests will be seated for the ceremony.

"It looks like Mac went all out for this day," Lydia Rockwell tells Kent Blackmore as they slowly walk through the garden. She can't help but be a little jealous of the set up; her wedding to Mac, years ago, was far less lavish. Of course, Mac hadn't exactly established the empire as Rockwell Mining was just starting out under the guidance of Mac's father. It wasn't until Mac took over that the company really became the empire that it is today, mostly due to his father's illness.

"Yes, it does look lovely," Kent agrees with her. "But you know what I'm thinking?"

"Do tell," she purses her lips together.

"How much more fabulous our wedding will be."

"Oh Kent," she pulls him into a hug.

"Well, isn't this a sight for sore eyes," Mac Rockwell announces as he emerges from the French Doors that lead into the living room. "My ex-wife and her side piece embracing at the sight of my wedding."

"Let's not do this, not today," Lydia waves her hand, which has a huge diamond ring on it, back to Mac. "Today should be about you and Celeste."

"Yes, it should be," he spits back to her. "You're only here for the children, Lydia. That doesn't excuse the fact that you brought this man into my home."

"This man is the man I love!" she protests, trying not to create a scene.

"It's fine Lydia," Kent tells her, trying to calm her down. "Mac, I know we haven't gotten along in the past, but this is a new time in our lives. Can't let the past be the past? The divorce is final. I suggest we move forward."

Mac chuckles back to him. "That's ironic, considering just a few weeks ago you stole the Serbia mine from me," Mac grits his teeth to Kent. "You claim to want to bury the hatchet, but your actions say something completely different."

Kent laughs back to him. "Aren't you the one who always says 'it's only business'? The Serbia mine was up for grabs, I happen to outbid on a transaction. You can't say that you've never outbid another rival company in business?"

"You know damn well it's more than that between you and I," Mac fumes, as Cole Rockwell comes outside, hearing the yelling from the living room. "And, I won't allow you to ruin my company. Not anymore."

"Dad, what's going on?" Cole asks, coming up behind him. "Today isn't the day to get into this with Kent. Let's go inside and you can get ready for the wedding. You and Kent can fight later, but today is about you and Celeste."

"I agree with your son," Kent mumbles back to Mac, who glares back to him. "Go get ready to marry that beautiful woman."

"This isn't over Blackmore. Far from it," Mac spits back to him before he turns around and leaves the garden with Cole following him.

***

Lydia rushes inside the mansion and finds the study, needing a quick breather following the heated words between Kent and Mac. She walks over to the bar and pours herself a brandy, just to take the edge off that she is now feeling.

"Rough morning?" a voice calls out from the doorway of the study as Lydia takes her first sip of the brandy. She turns and sees Lucinda standing there, wearing large diamond earnings and a matching bracelet.

"Do you always sneak up on people?" Lydia asks her former mother in law.

"I do when people help themselves to the alcohol in a home in which they do not live in," Lucinda quips back to her. "Why are you drinking alone? Where is your fiancé?"

"He's in the restroom," Lydia replies to her.

"Good, it will give us a moment alone. We need to talk."

"Do we? I can't imagine what you and I have to say to one another," Lydia admits to Lucinda as she takes another sip of her brandy.

"The other night at the engagement party," Lucinda begins to tell her. "I warned about revealing your secret and you seemed rather startled. I know the truth, Lydia, and I refuse to allow you to ruin this family anymore than you already have!"

Lydia sighs and looks back at Lucinda. "Do you really think I want the truth to come out? I'm not stupid, Lucinda. I know exactly the kind of damage it would do if anyone learned the truth."

"Good," Lucinda whispers back to her. "Because, if you even whisper this to anyone, I will come for you. And you do not want me to come for you, because you have no idea what I'm capable of."

***

"Daddy?" Stacey Rockwell asks as she opens the door to the bedroom where Mac is putting his tuxedo on. He turns and spots his daughter, wearing a sparkling pink dress and a matching diamond necklace and bracelet combo. "Can I come in?"

"Of course you can my love," Mac smiles at the sight of her. "You look beautiful today."

Stacey blushes a little back to him. "Thank you," she says as she comes up and they kiss one another on the cheek. "You will make a very handsome groom."

"You're just saying that because I'm your father," he teases her.

"It's not too late, you know," she tells him as they exit their embrace. "I know I was giving you a difficult time before about Celeste being younger than you but I feel like it needs reminding. You don't have to go through with this. You can take more time to figure out who you are a man without Lydia as a wife."

Mac shakes his head to her. "I don't need time," he replies to her quickly. "You see, your mother and I hadn't been married for a very long time. I learned long ago who I am on my own. And I love Celeste, Stacey. I want you to know that and believe that."

"But she's so much younger, Daddy!"

"One day," Mac continues to tell her. "I hope you'll understand that sometimes love doesn't make sense. It doesn't follow rules or a pattern. It just happens. You can't control to whom you fall in love with, you can just control that you are in love."

"I just want you to be happy, Daddy," Stacey tells him as they hug one another.

"I know that," he smiles back to her as they exit their embrace. "I love you for caring, but I will marry Celeste. I want you to be happy and accept that."

***

In the living room, Lucinda Rockwell makes herself a gin and tonic at the bar as Cole Rockwell and Lex Rockwell come in from the French doors.

"It's going to be a hot day out there," Lex tells everyone. "A beautiful day for a wedding."

"That's why I'm hydrating now," Lucinda quips back to them as she takes a sip of her beverage. "Don't want to be in that sun and looking for something to drink."

"I like the way you think, Nana," Cole laughs with he makes himself a drink as well. "Maybe we should have a quick toast."

"What should we drink too?" Lex asks him, as Cole passes him a gin and tonic as well.

"To family," Lucinda tells them. "Together, us Rockwell's are stronger than any other family I know. And, we will continue to be strong with the addition of Celeste."

Cole looks at them uneasily before he raises his glass to them. "To family," they say together before they start to take a sip of their drinks.

***

Celeste twirls around in her wedding dress, looking at herself in the large mirror that rests up against the wall. She can't believe how pretty she feels in the large, princess style dress. The diamond necklace and matching earning that Mac gave her make her feel even more like a princess today.

"I can't believe that I'm about to marry the man of my dreams," she whispers to herself, as she hears a knock on the door. "Who could that be?"

She walks to the door and opens it a little, peaking outside, hoping that it's not Mac since it is bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony. Instead, she sees Cole standing at the door, looking dashing in his tuxedo.

"Cole," she says opening the door more so he can come inside. "What are you doing here?"

"Wow," he flashes his million dollar smile to her. "You look so beautiful."

"Thank you," she smiles back to him. "You look very…" she pauses as she thinks of the right word. She wants to tell him how sexy he looks in his tuxedo, but she knows she can't say that to him. "Handsome in your tuxedo."

"This old thing?" he chuckles back to her. "Look, I just wanted to come and wish you good luck today. I know we had some … run in's and what not, but I do want only what's best for you."

"I appreciate that," she nods back to him. "I never meant for things to get complicated between us, Cole, I hope you know that."

"I know," he replies to her. "I never meant to make you feel like you were in an uncomfortable position."

She smiles back to him. "Kissing wasn't uncomfortable," she winks back to him.

He blushes a little. "No, it was not. It was magical."

They look at each other for a moment and he moves closer to her. His lips lean in and softly touch hers. "That's for good luck and goodbye in a way," he whispers to her as their lips part. "I hope this is what you want."

She nods back to him. "It is, Cole. Thank you for this moment. It's something I'll never forget."

***

The guests sit outside on the chairs in the garden next to the fountain, as the wedding march has started to take play. The minister is in the middle of his sermon to Mac and Celeste, as Cole watches from the front row. He feels beads of sweat form on his forehead; he isn't sure if it is from the sun or from the fact that she doesn't want Celeste to marry his father. A part of him wants to stand up and scream at the top of his lungs, but he knows that he can't do that. His father deserves to be happy and Celeste has told him that this is what she wants.

"Do you Celeste, take this man to be your wedded husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?" the minister asks Celeste, as the diamonds on her ears sparkle in the sun.

"I do," she smiles before she turns and quickly looks at Cole. She looks back at Mac, who is grinning ear to ear. She looks at Mac and tells herself that she is doing the right thing.

"And Mac, do you take this woman to be your wedded wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"

Mac nods to him and Celeste, thrilled that this day has finally arrived. After the years of disaster with Lydia, Celeste is exactly what Mac needed in his life. "Oh, yes, I do!"

"By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you, husband and wife…"

Before the minister can finish, Mac pulls Celeste into him and kisses her passionately, as the crowd stands and claps for the newlyweds, as Cole awkwardly looks on.

***

One of the 58 rooms in the mansion is a ballroom, where Mac and Lydia threw many lavish parties while they were married. Today, however, the ballroom is the venue for Mac and Celeste's wedding reception. Waiters are walking around with the best champagne for people to enjoy, and there are many tables filled with any kind of food people could desire.

Lydia grabs a glass of champagne and looks around the room. She has to admit that the wedding has been nothing short of beautiful. She doesn't want to feel jealous but she can't help it a little bit. It just makes her realize that she has to make her wedding to Kent bigger and better than this wedding.

She changes her thought process when she sees her son, Lex Rockwell, standing alone by the doorway, talking on his cell phone. She arches her eyebrow, wondering why he would be taking a business call while at the wedding of his father. She starts walking up to him with intent, hoping to tell him that this isn't the time nor the place for a business call.

"Larry, it's Lex Rockwell calling you back," Lex says into his telephone, as Lydia comes up to him. "I'm still waiting to hear back from you regarding the Kelsey Lake investigation. Please call me back as soon as you can."

"Investigation?" Lydia asks her son as he hangs up his telephone, barely hearing the end of the conversation. "What are you investigating, Lex?"

Lex arches his eyebrow and wonders if he should tell his mother about his and Mac's decision to look into the reason as to why Rockwell Mining lost the Kelsey Lake mine all those years ago. If she was still married to Mac, he would tell her but the fact that they are divorced and she is now hooking up with Kent Blackmore, and working at Blackmore Ltd, he wonders where her loyalties are.

"It's business related Mom," Lex finally tells her cryptically.

"That doesn't answer my question," Lydia replies to him, still trying to get to the truth. She doesn't know why she has this awful feeling in the pit of her stomach that this is something that could ruin her. "What are you investigating."

"With all due respect Mom, you work for Rockwell Mining's biggest competition," Lex reminds her. "Whatever is going on at the company, I can't really share with you anymore. Just know that we are looking into what was stolen from Rockwell Mining. We want to know that truth. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to grab another glass of champagne."

She feels her heart skip a beat as he walks away from her. "What was stolen from them?" she whispers to herself. "They can't be looking into Kelsey Lake, could they? I could have sworn that is what he said."

***

"Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention please?" Mac announces to the crowd of guests that attended the reception. "I won't keep you long because I want you to enjoy the party, but I do want to make a toast to my new bride."

Celeste smiles as she stands next to Mac, her eyes, however, find Cole in the crowd and looks at him for a moment. He still looks so very dashing in his tuxedo, she thinks to herself. She quickly scolds herself and returns her focus and attention to her husband, Mac.

"Celeste, my love," Mac says to her. "I'm so glad you became my wife today. You've made me the happiest man in the world today and for that I'm going to love you until the end of time."

"Oh my, I love you too, Mac," she replies to him, trying not to cry and ruin her mascara. "I'm so honoured to be your wife!"

"To my new wife," he raises his glass as everyone follows. "Cheers."

The newlyweds kiss as the audience claps one more time. When they part, Celeste sees Cole leaving the party. She feels sad for a moment that she is clearly hurting him, but then she turns to her husband and smiles again because he is what she has to focus no, not Cole Rockwell.

***

The following day, Stacey is at the Kelsey Lake mine in the cafeteria, cleaning up again after the day's lunch serving. She has been looking everywhere for Houston, but she didn't see him at the serving today. She knows that Janice told her not to trust Houston but she can't help feel an attraction to him. She gets to the last table that she has to clean, when she hears the front door open.

"Houston?" she asks, seeing him come in with a couple of other guys.

"Hi," he tells her. "We were in a mine and were late coming out. Can we get a late lunch?"

"Of course," she smiles to him, happy to see him. "Come in, I'll get you guys each a plate, okay?"

"Thanks, we'd like that," Houston replies to her, as he and the two other guys move to a table and sit down.

Stacey and Janice soon emerge with three plates of the food. "This looks fantastic," Houston tells Stacey. "Have I mentioned what a breath of fresh air you around here? We are famished."

"Easy Houston," Janice snips at him. "This girl isn't gonna fall for your smooth talking ways."

Houston grins back to Janice before he looks over at Stacey. "Who says I'm smooth talking her? I like her, okay?"

Stacey can't help but feel butterflies in her stomach. "Janice, it's fine," Stacey tells her. "I can take care of myself. Besides, I've always made it a rule not to get involved with co-workers," she tells everyone, even though this is her first job. "It can get so…messy."

"Ain't that the truth," Janice agrees with her. "Look fellas, we gotta go start clean up. You holler if you need anything, okay?"

"I'll call for you Stacey," Houston winks at her. "If I need anything, that is."

***

"You won't believe what happened at the wedding reception," Lydia tells Kent as they sit on the patio of the country club having lunch together. She wanted to tell Kent about what she overheard the previous day, but he didn't stay for the reception because he didn't want to have more heated words with Mac on his wedding day. By the time Lydia got home, Kent was asleep and he went into the office early for a meeting, so it is the firstr time that they are seeing one another.

"Let me guess, Celeste threw the bouquet?" Kent teases her before he takes a sip of the pinot grigo that they are drinking.

"Very funny," she laughs back to him. "Seriously though, I overheard Lexington on the telephone about an investigation. When I asked him about it, he refused to tell me what was going on because I no longer work at Rockwell Mining."

"Well, dear, that does make sense," Kent replies to her. "Why would they give you any information regarding the company when you work for their rival company now?"

"I know all that," she waves her hand at him. "The point is, he told me that they were looking into something that was stolen from Rockwell Mining. Do you think they could be looking into how they lost Kelsey Lake? I swear I heard Lex say those words on the telephone."

Kent sighs and wonders if Lydia is right. "Even if they are, Lydia, there's nothing to uncover. Mac lost the mine so many years ago, what could they possibly do? There's no proof of anything that you did, right?"

"Not that I know of," Lydia replies to him quickly.

"So, just relax," he coaches her before he takes another sip of his wine. "The only way they could uncover anything is if you start to lose it and blow the cover. Keep cool and act like nothing happened and this will go away."

"My God, I hope you're right."

***

"That was amazing," Lex tries to catch his breath as Jarek Williams peels Lex's legs off his shoulders and Jarek moves next to him on the bed, fresh from making love. "I needed that so bad."

"I could tell," Jarek smirks back to him. "You were certainly asking for it a lot more than usual."

"I missed you the past couple of days," Lex admits to him before he leans up and gives him a kiss. "Let's not fight anymore, okay babe?"

Jarek chuckles back to him. "It's like I said the other day, our sex life is off the charts Lex, but I do want more than just hot sex with you."

"I know, I know," Lex replies to him. "Once things calm down at work, I will tell my Dad about us, okay? It's just, we have this Russia deal and it really will make or break the rest of our year. I can't make my Dad be preoccupied by us right now."

"I get that," Jarek tells him back. "But I'm holding you to this, Lex. I want more than just this. Even though this is amazingly hot."

Lex kisses him passionately again. "Yea, it is hot, because you're so sexy," he purrs.

"Easy," Jarek says in between a chuckle.

"No," Lex insists with another kiss. "I wasn't kidding when I told you I missed you."

***

"I'm glad I caught you," Celeste announces to Mac as she comes into his office unannounced. "I know you told me at breakfast that I might not see you again before you leave for Russia to close the deal you're working on, but I did want to speak to you about something."

"Anything darling," Mac stands up and hugs his new bride. "And, you're always welcome here. Can I get you a drink?"

"Sure, I'll have a brandy," Celeste replies to him as she sits on the sofa in the office. "I've been thinking."

"Do go on," he tells her as he comes over to her with two brandy's.

"Well, before we were married, you told me that after the marriage you'd consider opening a new division of Rockwell Mining where I could start a design firm. You know that I've always wanted to design my own jewellery."

"I remember the conversation very well," Mac nods back to her before he takes a sip of his brandy. "We are married now darling, I'm afraid I cannot commit to anything like a new division right now. All of my focus must be on this Russia deal. Rockwell Mining cannot lose this mine," he tells her

Celeste uneasily nods back to him, trying to hide her disappointment. She had hoped that Mac would jump on her division so she could have more purpose in her life. She doesn't want to just waste away at the mansion. "You promise me that once this Russia file closes, we can talk about my design department?"

"Of course I do," he whispers as he leans in and gives her a kiss. "I want you to be happy. You understand why I have to wait, right?"

"I suppose I do, yes," she nods back to him.

"Good," he says back to her.

Before she can respond to him, the office door opens and Cole and Lex emerge inside the office. Cole and Celeste's eyes immediately lock on one another but they try to pretend that they eyes didn't lock for htat second.

"We aren't interrupting, are we?" Lex asks his father and new step mother.

"No, I was just leaving," Celeste says as she stands up and looks at Mac. "Travel safe my love. We'll chat when you get back."

"I love you," Mac tells her as Celeste leaves the office. "Okay guys, what is the latest? I'm about to leave for Russia. Have we come up with something that will sweeten the deal?"

"I still think this is a horrible idea," Cole announces to them, as he crosses his arms. "It's not too late Dad to just make a bid and see what happens."

"We've already been over this, Cole," Mac replies to him quickly. "We have to ensure that we have this deal in the bag. If we don't do everything we can, Rockwell Mining could have it's worst year in years."

"I've decided that we should offer the Russian's a portion of the profits we make," Lex reveals to Cole and Mac. "I know that it is something we have never done, but Dad, if we give them say, 5%, that still leaves 95% for us. We could easily afford to lose the 5% and we know that Blackmore Ltd won't offer that to them. We are giving up front capital and then additional capital through out the year. It seems like a no brainer."

"I like that," Mac nods back to him before he shakes Lex's hand. "Great work, son."

Lex smirks as he looks over at Cole, knowing that he is the one who impressed Mac and not Cole. "Thanks Dad. Touch base when you get to Russia, okay?"

"I will, I need to be getting to the airport. I'll keep you two posted."

***

"Earth to Stacey," Janice tells her, as she sees Stacey sitting in a chair in the kitchen looking a million miles away.

"Sorry Janice, what did you say," Stacey snaps out of it. She has been trying to fight thinking about Houston, because Janice has told her that he is player, but she can't help herself from thinking about the young man. He has caught her attention, and the fact that he flirts with her on every chance he can get, makes her feel like he likes her too.

"What were you thinking about just now? You looked a million miles away."

"I guess I was," she reveals to her. "I know you don't want to hear this but I was thinking about Houston."

"Oh girl, that boy is trouble," Janice chuckles. "But he is cute, so I can see why you're smitten."

"He's cute and he's funny and he's…charming," Stacey replies to her. "Gosh, listen to me, I sound like a school girl or something."

"No shame, hunny," Janice laughs back to her.

Before Stacey can say anything, they hear a loud explosion. Stacey stands up as she feels the earth move beneath her feet. "What was that?"

"Your first explosion?" Janice asks her. "They just blew out ground to create a mine that they can field the diamonds. They obviously needed more territory to dig around in."

"It was so loud, everything shook, like an earthquake."

"You'll get used to it," Janice smirks back to her, as they can hear a siren going outside of the cafeteria. They both look at each other with concern and then rush over to the door. They open it and see men running away from the mine. "What's happening?" Janice asks, as the panic around her means more than just an explosion occurred.

"There was an explosion in the mine, an unwarranted one," one of the miners yells back to Janice.

"Is everyone okay?" Stacey asks concerned.

"We don't know, Houston was in the mine when it exploded!"

"Houston?" Stacey asks shocked by his response. "No, not Houston! Where is he? Is he okay?"