Episode 8; Familiar stranger
Recap: Sam gets involved in an operation that fails due to a link from a mole, Rhea Vega comes to Sownsville
Location: Laspa mansion, time: 9am
Black Rose was drinking coffee in the dinning room , Then Emily Spencer enters the sitting room.
Emily Spencer: Lander Spencer where are you? As she turns to the left she sees Black Rose as Black Rose also shocked by her her appearance but hid her smoothly with a blank expression on her face.
Emily Spencer: who are you? What are you doing in my husband house? ( Looking at her suspiciously)
Black Rose; I'm Tanya Richmond, your husband business associate. ( With a blank expression) Your husband isn't at home.
Emily Spencer; Are you the one he was expecting? I am his wife Emily Spencer, really where is he then?
Emily folded her arms.
"I asked you a question."
Before Black Rose could respond, the door opened.
Lander Spencer walked in.
"Emily."
Emily immediately turned toward him.
"Lander!"
A smile appeared on Lander's face as he walked toward her.
"My dear wife."
Emily's expression softened slightly.
"Don't 'my dear wife' me."
Lander placed an arm gently around her.
"Why not? Isn't that what you are?"
Emily tried to maintain her serious expression.
"I came here to see you."
"And here I am."
"You've been away for too long."
Lander smiled.
"Have you missed me?"
Emily looked away.
"Don't flatter yourself."
Lander laughed softly.
"Then I suppose Max and Adrian haven't missed me either."
Emily immediately looked at him.
"They have."
Lander's expression softened.
"Have they?"
"Of course, they have. They're your sons."
"They're also teenagers. I'm sure they have better things to do than miss their father."
Emily shook her head.
"Max asked when you were coming home."
"And Adrian?"
Emily smiled.
"Adrian pretended not to care."
Lander chuckled.
"That sounds like Adrian."
"They're twins, Lander, but sometimes I wonder how they came from the same womb."
Lander laughed.
"Max thinks too much."
"And Adrian doesn't think enough."
Lander looked amused
"Poor Adrian."
Emily suddenly remembered why she had come.
"Oh, before I forget."
She turned toward Black Rose.
"Who exactly is Tanya Richmond, and what does she do for you?"
Black Rose's eyes remained fixed on Emily.
Lander gently turned Emily back toward him.
"Must we discuss business tonight?"
Emily frowned.
"Business?"
"Yes."Lander smiled.
"You came here to see your husband, didn't you?"
Emily's expression softened again.
"Yes, but—"
"Then perhaps you should spend your time with your husband."
Emily sighed.
"You always know how to distract me."
Lander smiled.
"One of my many talents."
Emily shook her head but smiled.
"You should come home."
Lander's smile faded slightly.
"I will."
"Soon."
"I said I will."
"Max and Adrian miss you."
Lander looked at her for a moment.
"Go home, Emily."
Emily frowned.
"What?"
"It's getting late."
"But I just got here."
"I know."
Lander gently held her hands.
"I have a few things to take care of."
Emily looked disappointed.
"You're always busy."
Lander kissed her forehead.
"And yet you still married me."
Emily smiled faintly.
"Unfortunately."
Lander laughed.
"Go home."
Emily sighed.
"Fine."
She looked at Black Rose one last time.
"We're not finished talking."
Black Rose said nothing.
Emily turned back toward Lander.
"Come home soon."
"I will."
Emily nodded before walking toward the door.
"Goodnight, Lander."
"Goodnight, Emily."
After she left, silence filled the room.
Lander's expression immediately changed.
He turned toward Black Rose.
"Go."
Black Rose looked at him.
"Where?"
"The ranch."
Black Rose raised an eyebrow.
"Your other place?"
"Yes."
"The one outside the city?"
Lander nodded.
"Someone will meet you there."
Black Rose stared at him for a moment.
"Who?"
Lander gave her a cold look.
"You'll find out."
Black Rose smiled faintly.
"Very well."
She turned and walked away.
Meanwhile, at the Vega Mansion.
The Vega sisters were sitting in the living room when the front door opened.
Sander looked up.
"Are we expecting someone?"
Sarah shook her head.
"Not that I know of."
A woman walked into the room.
The sisters immediately stood.
Sander looked confused.
"Who is she?"
Sarah turned toward Sam.
"Sam?"
Sam remained calm.
The woman smiled.
"Hello."
Before anyone could ask another question, Miss Bani entered.
"Girls."
Sander turned toward her.
"Mom, who is this?"
Miss Bani smiled.
"This is Rhea Vega."
Silence filled the room.
Sarah blinked.
"Rhea Vega?"
Sander looked between Miss Bani and Rhea.
"Wait."
She pointed at Rhea.
"Vega?"
Rhea smiled.
"Yes."
Sarah looked at Sam.
"And you knew about this?"
Sam nodded.
"I did."
Sander stared at her.
"You knew someone named Rhea Vega was coming to our house and didn't think to tell us?"
Sam shrugged.
"It wasn't my secret to tell."
Sander looked at Miss Bani.
"Mom?"
Miss Bani walked toward Rhea.
"Rhea has been away for a long time."
Rhea looked around the mansion.
"It's good to be back."
Sarah folded her arms.
"Back?"
Sander stared at Rhea.
"Okay. Clearly, we're missing several chapters of this story."
Sam smiled faintly.
"You'll understand soon."
Later.
Sam walked into Dan Schinder's office.
Dan looked up from his desk.
"Sam."
Sam closed the door behind her.
"We need to talk."
Dan studied her.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm alive."
"That's not what I asked."
Sam walked closer to his desk.
"I was treated by a trusted medic. I'll survive."
Dan leaned back.
"Then what is this about?"
Sam's expression hardened.
"There are moles inside the ISS."
Dan's expression changed slightly.
"Sam—"
"No."
She placed both hands on his desk.
"Don't."
Dan stared at her.
"You don't know that."
"I know what happened."
"Someone attacked you. That doesn't automatically mean—"
LSA
Dan went silent.
Sam stared directly at him.
"Do you remember what happened in LSA
"Of course."
"Then you know we have dealt with this before."
Dan looked away.
"Sam."
"There are people inside this organization who know too much."
Dan looked back at her.
"We're investigating."
"Investigating?"
Sam laughed bitterly.
"That's what you always say."
Dan's expression hardened.
"Be careful."
"Why?"
"Because you're angry."
"I have every right to be angry."
Dan stood.
"We are doing everything we can."
Sam stared at him.
"Are you?"
Dan said nothing.
Sam took a step closer.
"And there's something else."
Dan remained silent.
Sam's voice lowered.
"Laspa."
Dan looked at her.
"What about him?"
Sam's eyes narrowed.
"Is he really dead?"
Dan's expression remained unreadable.
Sam continued.
"Or are you lying to me again?"
Silence filled the office.
Dan slowly looked away.
Sam's expression darkened.
"That's what I thought."
She turned and walked toward the door.
"Find your moles, Dan."
Sam stopped before opening the door.
"Before they destroy everything again."
She walked out.
Later that night.
Black Rose's car slowly drove toward the ranch.
The building stood alone outside the city, surrounded by darkness.
Black Rose stepped out of the car.
She looked around.
"Interesting."
She walked toward the entrance.
The door opened.
A man stood inside.
Black Rose stopped.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then the man stepped forward.
The light revealed his face.
Ricardo Leonardo Alfredo.
Black Rose stared at him.
A slow smile appeared on her face.
"Well."
Ricardo smiled faintly.
"It's been a long time."
Black Rose continued smiling.
"Longer than I expected."
Ricardo stepped closer.
"Welcome."
Black Rose looked around the ranch before turning back to him.
"It seems we have a lot to discuss."
Ricardo's smile disappeared.
"Yes."
His eyes darkened.
"We do."
END OF EPISODE 8.