Speaker 1: Good morning, JJ. I thought I might find you here.
I'm just here for a morning latte. I don't want
any trouble, Bethany. Gina isn't hiding in the shadows waiting
to strike again.
Speaker 2: Is she?
Speaker 3: She's already at the office.
Speaker 1: Well, for my own safety, I'm glad we're meeting in
a public place.
Speaker 3: Miana. I'm incredibly sorry for the other night. Okay. I
never meant for you to get hurt. It's my fault
and I shouldn't have thrown you out.
Speaker 1: You were out of control.
Speaker 4: I messed up.
Speaker 3: I'm sorry, Okay. Can we please just put this whole
thing behind us.
Speaker 1: You know most people wouldn't be so forgiving after the
abuse you and your sister put me through that night. However,
I'm the bigger person here.
Speaker 3: I know you are, and I appreciate you accepting my apology.
I'm glad you're all right, and I hope that we
can just pick up where we left off. We all
are a really good team here at Brigalton.
Speaker 1: I didn't accept your apology. I'll need to think about it.
Speaker 3: Who are you texting right now?
Speaker 1: I'm working, I'm speeding up. Giovanni Carreri's exit from Montecito.
I'm still not over you bringing him back into the picture.
Speaker 3: I can't get into that right now, Mina. I need
your help. There's an emergency board meeting this morning. I
think they're going to replace me with an interim CEO.
Speaker 1: What says who?
Speaker 3: My sister basically said.
Speaker 1: It unbelievable, Beth Andy Gina should have your back.
Speaker 3: She's the one that called the meeting. She's always been
critical of me. JJ.
Speaker 1: You know I'm your biggest cheerleader. It's a shame your
sister is playing games. But I've made some great connections
with the board while we've been working together these last
few months. They all love me. The chairman is my
father in law, for God's sake. Bradley is in my corner.
I'll talk to him, but I am limited on how
I can really help here. I'm not on the board,
but I will think of a solution.
Speaker 3: I wish you were on the board.
Speaker 1: I should be, so we'll need to work quickly. I
already need a stiff drink.
Speaker 3: Wait, I thought you were ordering a latte.
Speaker 1: What do you say we switched to espresso Martiniz instead.
Speaker 3: I could use some liquid courage right now.
Speaker 1: Well, if you insist.
Speaker 3: If I'm going to get through today, I need this.
Do you care if I finish it?
Speaker 5: Oh?
Speaker 1: No, here take it?
Speaker 3: Thanks? Wait why are you carrying around at full flask
at ten am?
Speaker 1: Because you've driven me to drink, But I'm willing to
put that aside for now. We absolutely cannot allow Bethany
Gina to swoop in on her broom and replace yous ceo.
Speaker 6: This is mother Seedar.
Speaker 5: Bethany Gina. I was hoping that was you. It's been
a while.
Speaker 7: Welcome back, Bradley's good to see you too. I wish
I could say I was in Saint Bart's or the Seychelles.
Speaker 5: Let me guess you've just been working the whole time.
Speaker 7: Yes, between work and battling the New York winter.
Speaker 2: I could use a face.
Speaker 8: I've always been a work hard, play harder kind of guy.
I recommend it.
Speaker 7: I accomplished a lot in New York, but there's no
time to slow down. Judging by my stacked calendar, I'm
going to be camped down in this conference room all
day long. I'm sorry. How are things with you and Helena?
She looked stunning in the pictures I saw from the
pleasant view resort ribbon cutting.
Speaker 5: I didn't go. Helena strongly suggested I sit this one out.
Speaker 7: I heard it was quite the event.
Speaker 5: I hate to miss a party.
Speaker 8: Listen, I'm glad to have you alone before this board
meeting kicks off. As chairman, I'm personally fifty to fifty
on appointing an interim CEO. Some of the board is
uneasy with your brother in the role, but I really
like JJ. On one hand, this is a privately held company,
and I believe in handling things quietly. But all of
his bad press makes the issue unavoidable. I don't know
how it got this bad.
Speaker 7: You're right, I'm taking this very seriously. However, my brother
and I are co owners of this company. It's very
hard to navigate.
Speaker 8: If things continue in this direction, they may only become trickier.
An overseas lender is putting pressure on us to bring
a new business, big contracts. In my experience, we need
to make a move on the leadership front. I'm open
to what that might look like.
Speaker 7: We must become more aggressive with our proposals. I hope
you know that the voice of the board is paramount
to me. You saw how my father ran this company.
He trusted the board implicitly. I'm here to remind you
and all of them that the practice is still in place.
Whatever the board says goes. We need a much needed
change at the top of this company. It sounds like
everyone's a line and so am I.
Speaker 4: Good morning, mother? Why are you sweeping up glass?
Speaker 2: Someone broke into the pool house last night. They took
the TV and the sound system.
Speaker 4: There's probably just some kids.
Speaker 2: I have lived in Montecito my whole life, and this
has never happened. I can't help but feel violated. This
has to be connected to the string of house robberies.
I mean, the police really need to get to the
bottom of who was doing this to us.
Speaker 4: I still don't understand why you don't have security. We've
talked about this, mother. It's a different world now.
Speaker 2: I have never needed security, Deacon. I can understand the
manner needing gates and cameras, but this old house was
never a target. Really shaken up over this?
Speaker 4: Okay, OK, how about this. I'll have the head of
security from the hotel come up for an assessment.
Speaker 2: Thank you. How is Mina recovering?
Speaker 4: Ugh, there's nothing wrong with her. The whole incident was exaggerated.
She's fine.
Speaker 2: Exaggeration is her normal. On a lighter note, where is Geo?
I'm excited to catch up over lunch.
Speaker 4: Oh, well, he had a beach yoga class earlier, so
I'll be a little late here. Let me help you sweep.
Speaker 2: How do you feel about Geo being here?
Speaker 4: It's been thirteen years. What has happened?
Speaker 2: You guys were perfect together. You know what I'm going
to say, you're wasting your life away with Mina.
Speaker 4: Well, she still is my wife. And then there's Diego.
Speaker 2: I don't know you're miserable. You can still be a
father to Diego and be happy. They're not mutually exclusive, right, But.
Speaker 4: You know I don't want my son growing up in
a broken home.
Speaker 2: I know that's a personal point of content for you,
But the circumstances are different now, Deacon.
Speaker 4: You know I'd prefer to avoid this whole conversation. I
don't want you to feel guilty. Mother. Bradley should have
been a father figure and he wasn't. I'm trying to
avoid being an absent, totally unreliable parent like he was.
Speaker 3: Now.
Speaker 4: I know you did your best, and I would never
blame you.
Speaker 2: I know I'm still disappointed by how he handled that
awful time.
Speaker 4: I was a kid watching you have chemotherapy for leukemia.
While he was traveling and partying. He abandoned me and
my sister. It's still unforgivable. I never want to be
that person.
Speaker 2: I understand, but I've just watched you be unhappy for
so long. I'm never going to advocate for you staying
with Mina.
Speaker 4: She's in a tails bed. She is so threatened by
you just being here. If I pursued divorce now, I
going to be a nightmare the family court, further parental alienation.
Speaker 2: Miana. No, she can't compete with Geo. She has a
good arrangement. She should be nervous.
Speaker 4: I just hope that.
Speaker 2: Geo stays in Monsito for a while. I can sense
a lightness in you already.
Speaker 4: I'm really enjoying my time with him. He's familiar, but
at the same time, it's a whole new dynamic. I
told him I would relocate to the manner and offer
him the bungalow, but he asked me to stay.
Speaker 2: And and I stayed, Is that what you want?
Speaker 9: Well?
Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean I think yes, I think that's what
I want.
Speaker 2: Well, I imagine you and go are going to see
where things go. And the closer you to become, the
more I mean it will fight you eventually. The again
you'll have to decide if GEO is worth the fight
or not.
Speaker 4: Right now, mother, I just want to decide between lemonade
and iced tea. Okay, I think we got all the glass.
That's set it for lunch.
Speaker 10: Sorry for being late, Helena. Thanks for having me over.
Speaker 2: Cheo, come on in, Hi, Deacon Chio. It's so good
to see you again. I'm excited to catch up.
Speaker 10: I hope you don't mind a little PDA, not at all.
Speaker 4: Go well, sorry, I have to take this. It's an
architect from Brussels. I've been waiting to hear from about
an upcoming proposal. This could be a while. Would you
hate me if I stepped out?
Speaker 2: Do what you need to do.
Speaker 10: Helene and I can catch up.
Speaker 4: It's all right, I'll make it up to you. How
about this. Let's meet at the hotel later and go
out for dinner. We can go to the boathouse together.
Sound good, Let's do it.
Speaker 8: Beth, Andy, Gina. Before we dial into the meeting, I
want to reiterate my support privately. I think you're doing
the I think I'm proposing an interim CEO to the board.
Speaker 7: I appreciate that. Bradley, you knew my father well. You've
always been loyal to Regalton. Your support goes a long way.
Speaker 5: This should be interesting.
Speaker 8: The board is apprehensive to continue down this path, but
we like JJ.
Speaker 7: I agree as COO, I'm happy to advocate for a
course correction.
Speaker 8: It's just business between us. I never understood why you
weren't running Eagleton. You are always the business mind, more
well suited for the CEO chair than your brother. Seems
like a miss, but I respected your father's wishes.
Speaker 7: He's been gone for a few years, but I still
feel like he's calling the shots. He was a traditionalist.
In his mind, a CEO could only be a man,
and only his son could hold that title. But this
is my oportution tunity to take the reins and recover
the company.
Speaker 8: Bradley, so good to see you mean, nah, you look fantastic.
Speaker 1: Thank you.
Speaker 5: You still owe me nine holes?
Speaker 1: You know, let's get in on the books, but make
it eighteen.
Speaker 5: I'm sorry. Do you two know one another?
Speaker 7: We've met?
Speaker 1: Well on that's our note. I just wanted a sidebar
with Bradley.
Speaker 7: Excuse us, I'm not leaving my conference room if that's
what you're asking.
Speaker 1: You've got a lot of attitude this morning. Bradley a moment.
Speaker 8: I'd love to chat with you, but we're just about
to dial in. Let's meet afterwards.
Speaker 1: It'll just be a minute. It's important, Bradley. Unlike Bethany Gina,
you've actually been here these last few months. You've seen
JJ and I work as a team. We don't need
anything to change. JJ should be respected as a CEO
by you and the period.
Speaker 8: You've done a great job keeping him focused. But the
board may feel differently in light of recent bad press.
Reagleton's unsteady. It's a tough call.
Speaker 1: This meeting is completely unnecessary.
Speaker 7: This meeting is about to start. I'm going to dial
in Mina. Please send in JJ JJ alone board.
Speaker 10: Members only, Helena. I can't get over how gorgeous your
garden is. That bougain Villa is incredible.
Speaker 2: Thank you. That's been here for a million years.
Speaker 10: Before we ead lunch, I wanted to give you this.
It's just a small gift, but it's heavy.
Speaker 2: Oh wow, you're not kidding, Geo. It's beautiful.
Speaker 10: It's a semi precious amethyst crystal. I've gotten really into
oil's crystal healing, and I wanted to share my love
for it with you. It will bring good health and clarity.
It's ideal for meditation.
Speaker 2: I love it. This is going right in my faery garden.
Thank you, of.
Speaker 10: Course, thank you for lunch. I feel bad that Deacon
is missing it.
Speaker 2: He works a lot. I'm used to it, but I
am sure he'd rather be here spending time with you.
Speaker 10: I don't expect his world to stop turning for me.
Speaker 2: Lemonade, iced tea, lemonade please. How does it feel being
back in Montecito? It's been so long.
Speaker 4: Weird.
Speaker 10: Actually, it brings back memories. Everything's the same, but still
so different. It feels a little bit like I'm going
back in time.
Speaker 2: I have to ask, how is it being around my
son again?
Speaker 10: I can tell we're both trying to feel each other out.
But it's been really nice to reconnect with Deacon after
all this time.
Speaker 2: Too much lost time you'll never get back.
Speaker 10: True, but that's the direction life took.
Speaker 2: It's all because of Mina. I cannot stand to see
her with my son. I'll never forgive or forget how
she trapped him with Diego. I'll always resent her for that.
I looked into it, and I'm convinced she's a narcissist.
A clinical psychologist friend told me that when you're in
a relationship with one you begin to slowly lose your identity.
I bet that's how he was able to suppress his
sexuality turn inward. It makes me sad, but more angry.
Speaker 10: There's no cohabitating with a narcissist.
Speaker 2: No, and I wanted to let you know what you're
dealing with. She has taken everything from him.
Speaker 10: I don't know how to ask this, but did Deacon
go back into the closet?
Speaker 2: No? No, he doesn't deny being gay. He's just a
shell of himself. He doesn't talk about his sexuality, not
with me anyway. Deacon and Bradley don't talk. He disappeared
into that toxic marriage in order to become a committed
father to Diego. That's it.
Speaker 10: I respect him for choosing his son. I've always tried
to be clear about that.
Speaker 2: You always have. He stopped himself from living an authentic
life because he wants to be the best possible father
to Diego. And while he's sacrificing himself, Mina continues to benefit.
I don't say it to Deacon, but I think it's
appalling that she's clearly messing around with JJ Rowman in
front of everyone.
Speaker 4: Deacon doesn't deserve that.
Speaker 2: I have prayed long and hard, but I don't see
a way out of this. You are the best thing
to come into his life right now.
Speaker 10: I like to believe that the universe has a way
of conspiring to make things happen. So I guess we'll see.
Speaker 2: And how about you? What's next for you?
Speaker 4: Here?
Speaker 2: Are you staying? Please tell me yes?
Speaker 10: I'd like to. I miss it here now that I'm
seeing everyone again. My cousin, Layla still lives here and
works at the hospital. We're catching up soon.
Speaker 2: I love to hear that. I want to know all
about your life in San Diego. I have so many.
Speaker 10: Questions, not much to say. Over the years, I developed
a large following in the online wellness space. I put
all my time and energy into raiki, healing and wellness coaching.
Speaker 2: I always wish I could turn my brain off long
enough to meditate. What else? I want to know? Everything?
Speaker 10: Not much to say?
Speaker 2: Tell me about your life in San diego.
Speaker 10: H nothing really worth getting into. Flash forward last week
when JJ Roman reached out to me with an opportunity
at Rigleton Worldwide.
Speaker 4: However, still no word on that.
Speaker 2: Trust me, you're better off. Bradley told me things that
Wrigleton are not like they used to be.
Speaker 8: Thank you for coming to this board meeting. It's great
to see all of you. I know it's last minute,
so I appreciate everyone taking the time to be here. Virtually,
as you see, it's just myself and Bethany Gina in
the Santa Barbara office. Are we waiting on the CEO?
Speaker 7: JJ should be here shortly while we hold for another second.
I wanted to speak on behalf of myself as Regalton's
chief operating officer throughout my tenure, I like to think
that we have had a transparent relationship. The feeling is
that things need to move in a new direction. And
I hear that.
Speaker 2: Hey guys, Hey, I'm so sorry that I'm late.
Speaker 1: Hello everyone, Oh sorry, JJ, get over here, come on down.
Speaker 7: I apologize for my brother's lack of composure.
Speaker 4: Is he really that trashed?
Speaker 1: I was trying to catch him before he came in here.
I did everything I.
Speaker 7: Could Mina, please leave now, JJ, What the hell is
wrong with you?
Speaker 3: M are you?
Speaker 8: Miss?
Speaker 7: I'm sorry everyone, Let's regroup, reschedule. I'm going to end
the call and I'll circle back shortly. Mina, I told
you board members only what is going on here.
Speaker 1: I'm saving your ass.
Speaker 7: Bradley, I am so sorry about this.
Speaker 1: Don't apologize for me, ladies.
Speaker 5: Calm down.
Speaker 8: Mina handled the situation. She really stepped up here. I
just wish you got to JJ sooner. I'm going to
go sober him off.
Speaker 7: Yes, once we get JJ and Mina out of here,
we can dial back in and get on with the agenda.
Speaker 8: No, Mina stays she did the right thing, trying to
prevent JJ from embarrassing himself.
Speaker 7: What you can't be serious.
Speaker 5: I am.
Speaker 9: Mina stays next on Montecito.
Speaker 6: Mina turns the tables on Bethany Gina, I've.
Speaker 1: Earned a seat at the table. I should be on
the board of directors.
Speaker 6: And takes aim at her next victim, Geo.
Speaker 1: Carreri most wise have to confront the other woman. For me,
I have to confront the other man.
Speaker 6: And Geo's not pulling any punches.
Speaker 4: Deacon has been all over me since I got back.
I can give him something you can't.
Speaker 6: This has been Montecito created and executive produced by Grant Rutter.
Executive story editor is Andrew Pemberton Follower. Supervising sound editor
is Trey Boody. This episode featured performances by Crystal Chappelle
as Helena Granville, Blasco, Vincentierrazzari as Bradley Bulasco, Mike Manning
as JJ Roman, Peter Porte as Deacon Grandville, Chelsea Rendon
as Mina rast Grandville, m Rylan as Bethany Gina Roman Quinn,
and Marc Anthony Samuel as Geo Carreri. This episode was
written by Grant Rutterer with support by Chloe Bell. Music
furnished by Epidemic Sound. Original theme music composed by Patrick Emil,
voiceover by Rick Hurst. Production support provided by Soapcast. This
production is recorded under a SAG after a micro pod agreement.
We invite you to subscribe to the show wherever you
get your podcasts. Join us again for Montecito.