The longer she waits for Stanley to return home, the more Eloise feels the fury inside her grow. She sits in the living room watching as the second hand of the clock ticks slowly as though time is mocking her. When Stanley does arrive, he walks in with a smile on his face. This infuriates her even more because to him, nothing is wrong. “Where have you been?” She asks when he is right in front of her with his arms wide open in a hug invitation. Her hostility causes him to crease his eyebrows and drop his arms to his sides.“My parents’ house like I said. What is going on?”Eloise scoffs “Your parents’ house. That would be true except I was there this afternoon and you were not there.”Stanley looks away from Eloise and looks everywhere in the room except at her. “I left there for a while. It does not matter.” He begins to walks away from her.She follows him. “It matters to me. What kind of wife am I if I do not know where my husband is?”“The non-controlling one,” he says as he start
Mary Lou walks away from Eloise’s apartment towards Broadway. It is clear that Eloise wanted her out of there but Mary Lou also sees that whatever is going on, Eloise is not ready to talk about it. At first, Mary Lou is walking around aimlessly but she finally sees a poster for a week-long casting call that gives her a sense of direction. A play by a Logan Michaelson is looking for extras. She asks for direction to the theatre and begins to walk as fast as she can. For a long time, Mary Lou has not experienced the excitement that she experiences has she gets closer to the theatre. Truly, the stage and curtains are what she was born to be about and she can feel that this one is a dream about to come true. When she gets to the theatre, there is a long line of people waiting to go in and Mary Lou joins them. She gives all the others who she can see a cursory glance. Many of them are attractive but that is the only assessment she can make about them. She cannot judge their talent based o
Mary Lou is wearing the prettiest dress she owns. Not because that snotty man Logan Michaelson asked her to dress pretty but because it is a night out in New York city and she just wants to look good. She waits for him in her apartment while Fay and Eliza ask her about this mystery man but she gives them no details. For a second, she entertains the possibility that he could stand her up. He seems exactly like the kind of man to do that. But at exactly 8pm when he said he would show up, she hears a knock at the door. Mary Lou does not allow Fay or Eliza to open the door lest they tart a conversation with Logan. She opens it and closes it behind herself, yelling goodbyes at them and telling Logan that they can leave.“I cannot say hello to your friends,” he asks.“No, this is not a date,” Mary Lou says, turning her attention towards Logan and taking him in for the first time that night. He is wearing a suit that does not do much to hide his build. He smells like vetiver or some other e
Eloise places her left hand on her hip and her right hand on her forehead and closes her eyes as though she is dizzy. She then opens her eyes and walks slowly to the couch, falling right into it. Mary Lou follows her and sits next to her.“Are you okay?” Mary Lou asks.“I have suspected this for a while now,” Eloise says, her voice weak and emotionless. “He told me that I was crazy.”“I am so sorry, Eloise,” Mary Lou says as she holds Eloise’s hands.“It’s not your fault.” Eloise groans. “This would be so much easier if I did not have this secret I have been keeping too.Mary Lou sits up. “What secret?”**********It was six hours between the time that Mary Lou left and the time that Stanley returned from work but it felt like the longest day of Eloise’s life. She could not do anything else but stare miserably at that clock which seems to have been a constant reminder of the way her marriage is disintegrating. Eloise cannot make sense of all that is happening. Is this not the same Sta
Silence fills Eloise and Stanley’s apartment to the brim. If a needle had dropped in that moment, it would have echoed as loud as silverware. If a door had creaked at its hinges. It would have sounded like a train derailed and ran straight into their living room. Stanley was looking at Eloise, his red face and wide eyes, smoking gun of his shock. Eloise on the other hand is looking at her husband worryingly, wondering why he is having such a reaction to what she had just told him. Surely, this could not be a total shock to him. Afterall, they were married. “Okay,” Eloise says, breaking the silence as she gets up to leave. “If you’re going to just stand there and look like a deer caught in the headlights, I’ll leave and give you a moment.”“No!” Stanley protests as he leaps forward and holds her hands, keeping her still. “I’m just a little surprised is all.”“Well, you would not be so surprised if you had paid me any attention these past few weeks,” Eloise tells him, her words and ton
Mary Lou hears the sound of someone knocking on the door to the apartment she shares with Eliza and Fay but chooses to ignore it, opting instead to stay in her room and avoid any form of interaction. However, when she hears footsteps approaching her and the sound of a knock on her door, she knows that she cannot avoid this. “Mary Lou,” Fay says as she slowly pokes her head into the room. “There’s someone here to see you.” “Who is it?” Mary Lou asks. “A man,” Fay answers with a whisper. “He has flowers.” Mary Lou groans. Not that she is not a fan of flowers. Quite the opposite. In fact, she is a sucker for such gestures but she knows who that man is most likely to be – Logan. Logan Michaelson, the theater director who was initially rude to Mary Lou when he met her at his audition and then invited her on a date after she stood up for herself. She has been avoiding him ever since the date. Her excuse was that there was a bigger issue to focus on – the possibility that Stanley w
It has been a week since Eloise told her husband that she is pregnant and things have been going smoother than she expected. She has been able to hide the pregnancy from everyone although doing so from her friends was a bit of a chore. It was hard convincing Mary Lou, Eliza and Fay that the conversation she had with Stanley simply ended when he told her the truth about what he has been up to. However, when she revealed nothing more, they chose to take her word for it albeit with some skepticism. Every night since then, Stanley has returned home earlier and exceedingly happy. As a form of ritual, he would pick Eloise up when she opens the door and spin her around until she screams at him to put her down. Then he would drop her gently on the couch, stare longingly into her eyes and place a gentle kiss on her forehead and then her tummy.Eloise always protests and acts as though these playful but sweet acts of his annoy her but in their repetition but she enjoys it so much that she alwa
“How are you, dear?” Phyllis goes to Eloise first and pulls her in for a half hug before turning to face Stanley. “And you think that it’s a good idea to just keep your wife standing here? I guess there are no such things as gentlemen anymore.”Stanley rolls his eyes and holds Eloise’s hand, leading her towards the dining area while Phyllis follows them. Despite the show of friendliness and affection from everyone in the family so far, Eloise cannot help but still feel a bit out of place. Maybe it is some residual felling from the hostility that they have shown her in the past or a part of her still feels like this is all a ruse but Eloise just cannot feel herself fitting in to this scene. “How have you been, Eloise?” Phyllis asks after they are seated at the table with an obviously irritated Charlotte. “We have not had a proper conversation since you returned from your honeymoon.”The question throws Eloise off. Does Phyllis Bradshaw really want to know how she has been or is she j
The next morning, the auditorium buzzes with the energy of hopeful actors and actresses. The stage is set for auditions, with rows of seats filled by those waiting for their turn. Ms. Parker sits at a long table near the front, a stack of scripts in front of her. Mary Lou stands beside her, clipboard in hand, a mix of excitement and determination on her face. As the first actor steps onto the stage, Ms. Parker nods to Mary Lou, who announces, "Next, we have Kevin Thompson reading for the role of Jack." Kevin begins his monologue, his voice echoing through the auditorium. Ms. Parker and Mary Lou watch intently, making notes and exchanging glances. The actor finishes his piece, and Ms. Parker smiles warmly. "Thank you, Kevin. We'll be in touch," she says. Kevin leaves the stage, replaced by the next hopeful. The auditions continue, a parade of talent showcasing their skills. Some performances are strong and confident, while others falter under the pressure. Throughout it all, Mary
As Eloise and Phyllis step into the restaurant, the first thing that hits Eloise is the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the scent of warm pastries. The interior is elegantly decorated, with soft lighting that casts a golden glow over the room. Polished wooden floors reflect the light, and the walls are adorned with tasteful artwork. Tables are set with crisp white linens and delicate china, creating an atmosphere of refined sophistication. The gentle murmur of conversation fills the air, interspersed with the clinking of silverware and the occasional burst of laughter. A soft jazz melody plays in the background, adding to the restaurant’s serene ambiance. The smell of caramelized sugar and freshly baked bread wafts from the kitchen, making Eloise’s mouth water despite her tension. As soon as they step through the door, a well-dressed maître d' hurries over, a broad smile spreading across his face as he recognizes Phyllis. "Mrs. Bradshaw, what a pleasure to see you ag
"Dad," Stanley says, his voice barely above a whisper. A mixture of shock and confusion flickers across his face. "What are you doing here?" James smiles, a knowing, almost condescending smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes. He strides forward with the confidence of a man accustomed to being in charge, and comes to stand beside Sebastian. "Stanley," James greets, his voice smooth and measured. "I see you've met Sebastian. We've been in touch for some time now, discussing matters that concern both of us—and, by extension, you." Stanley feels a rush of emotions—anger, betrayal, and confusion—swirl within him. His mind races to make sense of this unexpected alliance. "What is going on?" Stanley demands, his voice stronger now, fueled by the simmering anger. "Why are you here, and what are you both up to?" James and Sebastian exchange a glance, a silent communication passing between them. Then, James turns his full attention to his son. "Stanley, there are things at play here tha
Stanley grips the steering wheel tightly as he drives away from their home in Tribeca. The bustling streets of New York City quickly transition from the dense urban jungle to the more open, quieter roads leading out of the city. His mind is a whirlwind of thoughts, primarily centered on the man he is about to confront, Sebastian Flores. As he navigates through the busy traffic, he reflects on the events that have led him here. The revelation of Emily's orchestrated scheme to drive Eloise to the brink had been a shocking blow. But it had also brought to light deeper, more sinister undercurrents. Who else had been involved? And why? The questions gnawed at him, fueling his determination to find answers. The cityscape gradually gives way to the sprawling suburbs, with their neatly manicured lawns and tree-lined streets. The sounds of honking horns and the constant buzz of the city fade into the background, replaced by the more subdued hum of tires on asphalt and the occasional chirp o
Eloise pushes the shopping cart through the polished aisles of the grocery store, each step echoing softly on the tiled floor. The store is brightly lit, with wide aisles that provide a clear view of the meticulously arranged shelves, As she moves toward the bakery section, the comforting aroma of freshly baked bread and pastries wafts through the air, mingling with the faint scent of coffee brewing at the nearby café. Soft, soothing background music plays with the murmur of other shoppers discussing their purchases or catching up on their day. Eloise pauses by the dairy section, scanning the neatly arranged rows of milk, yogurt, and cheeses. As she rounds the corner near the dairy section, she nearly collides with a tall, familiar figure. "Eloise?” the man exclaims, his voice tinged with surprise and delight. Eloise looks up, her eyes widening. “Thomas! It’s been ages!” Thomas Wilson, her old boss from the magazine where she first worked as an assistant when she moved to Ne
Mary Lou sits across from Eloise in the living room, a cup of tea in her hands. The morning sunlight filters through the curtains, casting a warm glow on their faces. Eloise notices the contemplative look in Mary Lou’s eyes and even before her friend speaks, she senses that a significant conversation is about to unfold. "Eloise, there’s something I need to tell you," Mary Lou begins, her voice steady but tinged with a hint of uncertainty. Eloise sets her own cup down, giving Mary Lou her full attention. "What is it, Mary Lou? You know you can tell me anything." Mary Lou takes a deep breath to gather her thoughts. "I’ve been thinking a lot about my future and everything that’s happened. I’ve come to a decision, and I wanted to share it with you first." Eloise leans forward with concern etched across her features. "Go on." Mary Lou looks down at her cup, then back up at Eloise. "I’ve decided to quit acting." Eloise’s eyes widen in alarm. "What? But you love the theater! Actin
The next few weeks fly by quickly but they bring a welcome period of peace for Eloise and Stanley, something they both now know is a rare find. Their home is a sanctuary of calm, filled with the gentle and seamless progress of daily life. The newborn's soft coos and the rhythmic ticking of the clock create a soothing backdrop to their newfound tranquility. For the first time in a while, they both experience what it feels to have a truly serene domestic life. Eloise, whose belly is no longer swollen with a pregnancy that weighs her down, moves gracefully around the house. She tends to their child’s every need and settles fully into her role as a mother. She accepts this role like an expert. Her face which was once marked by worry and tension now radiates a contentment. She often pauses to gaze out of the window, and in those moments, her eyes relect a quiet sort of happiness, one of contentment and fulfillment, as she watches the leaves which had previously turned into the rich hues o
Stanley and Eloise stand at the entrance of Emily’s grand townhouse, their hearts pounding in unison. The air is crisp with the bite of the approaching winter. Police officers surround them and their presence is a comforting assurance of safety. Before they walk forward, Eloise looks to Stanley who gives her a reassuring look. The lead detective knock gently and after a short while, the door swings open to reveal Emily. As always, she is poised and elegant in a short black dress and black heels. Her hair is blown out and light so that the wind from the outside blows them freely. In her hand is a half full glass of wine which she holds on tightly too for dear life. When she sees those before her, her eyes widen in surprise. The surprise is quickly replaced by panic. "What’s the meaning of this?" she demands, her voice dripping with disdain. "Emily Flores," one of the officers steps forward, "you are under arrest for conspiracy, harassment, and endangerment." Emily’s composed facad
The streets of New York City are just as busy and lively as they usually are but to Stanley, they feel distant and muted. The crisp air bites at his skin, a stark reminder of the approaching winter. The sky is a heavy gray, threatening snow that hasn't yet begun to fall. The wind whistles through the tall buildings, carrying the scent of roasted chestnuts from a vendor just a few feet away and the sharp, metallic tang of cold concrete. Stanley pulls his coat tighter around himself. As he walks, his breath is visible in the cold. The city's sounds—the honking of cars, the chatter of pedestrians, the distant wail of a siren—blend into a background hum that he barely registers. His mind is elsewhere, consumed by the revelations of the past few days. He thinks about the pieces that have fallen into place, the clues that led him to understand who is responsible for the turmoil that has gripped their lives. The manipulation, the threats, the orchestrated events—all designed to destabiliz