Risk

Chapter XLI

Control

Carly leans up on one elbow looking down at Stavros beneath her. The fire in the fireplace has reduced to glowing embers. Stavros reaches up and tucks a lock of hair behind Carly's ear and then eases a thumb over the worried furrows in Carly's forehead, smoothing them. "Tell me what you are thinking."

Carly crawls up onto her knees beside him and looking around grabs what is handy... Stavros' dress shirt. She draws it around her buttoning it absently. "This was a mistake." The words come out of her in a flood. "Why don't I ever learn? Why do I keep doing the same thing over and over again? You are the best thing that ever happened to me in I don't know how long and I just blew it out of the water." Stavros stiffens sensing a rejection. Carly plants a hand in the middle of his chest holding him to the floor. "It's not you okay?! And I'm not feeding you some line to try to make you feel better. Aw hell! What you would you know about that line you've probably never heard that one... you were married to Laura. She never would have taken any responsibility for what went on in your marriage. Probably just put on a sad face and acted like a kicked puppy. It's not about you. It's me." Carly jumps to her feet and starts pacing. "I can't do this. I screw it up every time. As soon as I start... We are suppose to be pals, partners... friends. I'm suppose to be helping you get the estate back and you helping me with Deception. That was the deal. Not sex. I suck at sex. I ruin everything. It changes everything. I know it changes everything."

Stavros leans up on his elbows watching Carly pace in front of the fire. Her movements are sharp and choppy to match the explosion of words. "Do not confuse me with men you've had in the past."

"But that's just it! There wouldn't have been any confusion if we hadn't..." Carly indicates with a wave to the floor, the couch, and the desk before continuing. "Tony! I broke up my mother's marriage and ruined any chance of her really accepting me because I had to have more. Jason! I chased him for years never satisfied with being friends I always wanted more. AJ! Oh I don't even want to go there I still have no idea what I was thinking. And Sonny! Ohmygawd Sonny." Carly starts shaking her head. "I can't do this. I don't know how! I told Mrs Pappas we were playing this loose. Jeez, joke on me-- I don't know how to do loose. Everyone thinks you're the one that is wacked." Carly starts laughing almost hysterically. "This is the perfect example!" Carly points to the floor. "I should be all cool and going oh baby you're the best and acting like it's no big deal but I'm screwing that up already. I don't know how to do this!"

Stavros gets to his feet and stands in Carly's path of pacing ignoring his lack of dress. He places his hands on her shoulders. "Stop."

"But..."

"No, now it is my turn." Stavros demands. "Don't you realize this is a new page for me as well? I am not any man that you've had in the past... nor are you like anything in my experience. What is done is done and cannot be undone. I do not wish it undone. We make our own rules. You are a beautiful and desirable woman...."

"Ha!" Carly snorts.

Stavros shakes her. "Listen to me. Hear me. You are a beautiful and desirable woman but that is not all you are. I have been patient with you, but you and I both knew that it would come to this place. You will not deceive yourself the way you deceive others. I will regain the rest of the Estate. You will rule Deception with my son by your side. And we will do it together." Stavros slides one hand between Carly's thighs brushing aside the tails of his shirt to gain access. Carly gasps her stomach tightening and her head falling back as Stavros rubs against her.

"What about your wife?" Carly licks her lips, her body tightening around Stavros' fingers like a glove.

"She has her lover, and now..." Stavros leans in close his voice a growl in Carly's ear. "...I will have mine."

Laura steps off the elevator into the Deception offices. She is wearing sunglasses even though it was a cloudy and gross day in Port Charles. Luke didn't come home last night. She has no idea where he is--again. "Any calls, Elton?"

"Plenty-- but not the one I think you're hoping for." Elton takes his boss in with a look from head to boots. Cursed with curiousity, Elton knows that Deception is in deep financial kimchee.

"What about the check to the Italian bottle makers."

Elton shakes his head. "Already cashed. I couldn't put a stop on it. They are willing to send some of it back but it will be when they get round to it."

"Damn. And the banks?"

"Aren't returning my calls."

Laura takes off her sunglasses. Her eyes are red and swollen. "I can't ask Scott. It isn't fair to him."

"Fair shmair! You have a payroll to meet!" My check included. I knew I should have updated my resume last night "I'll get him on the line."

"Has Nikolas called back?"

"As a matter of fact..." Elton glances back thru his book. "He did call. And said that he'd be here this afternoon."

"Let me talk to my son first." Laura sighs grasping at straws. "Has Lucky checked in?"

"Just that email yesterday. He has a full schedule today."

"Okay. No calls, Elton. Not unless..."

"I'll handle it, Mrs Spencer." Laura nods and goes into her office. Elton opens up the computer and calls up his resume.

"You really should be staying in bed!" Bobbie calls from the outside of the bathroom door. "You broke a rib and fractured two more."

Stefan comes out of the bathroom wearing only his slacks. His hair wet from the shower. "I have duties. It is enough that I have already wasted the morning."

"You are in pain. And damn it, Stefan. Nobody expects you to be superman when you're injured."

Stefan chooses his words carefully. "... Conversations with your brother I put in the same category as self inflicted ailments. Thus no excuse for shirking."

"I do wish the two of you would just stay away from each other." Bobbie brings out the bandages. "Here. Lift your arms up as much as you can." With smooth efficiency, Bobbie starts wrapping Stefan's torso with the elastic bandages that will support Stefan's ribs as they heal, wincing as she does so at the colorful bruises about the size of her brother's fist that pepper Stefan's upper body.

"What did you tell Lucas?"

"I told him you were in an accident and we'd stay here on the island until you were healed. He won't be trying to get you to go riding. I told him that was definitely out. And no Tai chi either. Strictly light duty."

"Barbara, this is really unnecessary."

"And you got your medical training where?! I'll decide what is necessary. And having you coughing up blood is something I'd prefer to avoid especially in front of Lucas. I don't want you to scare him by overdoing and keeling over." Bobbie starts lecturing. "He knows you're hurt and are suppose to be taking it easy. You really shouldn't be going into the hospital today."

"I have to." Stefan grudgingly explains himself. "If I don't deal with the Quartermaines then Stavros will. Which will not reflect well on either of our families. But you should stay on the island. I will notify the guards you are not having visitors."

"I am not going to hide from Alan and Monica." Bobbie says flatly. "I put most of the blame on Sonny for the Quartermaines trying again for custody of Michael. But that doesn't mean I agree with what they did. Or what Carly did either. I can understand her reasoning. It's not like the Quartermaines have ever heard of the word cooperation or coparenting. But I don't think it's in Carly's vocabulary either. They come at me and I'll give as I get. They can't do anything to me." Bobbie holds Stefan's shirt so that he can slide his arms into it one at a time.

"I prefer to not test that hypothesis." Stefan winces as he twists to get the second arm in. "While I believe you to be correct, I will ensure you are correct, it doesn't mean that the conversations wouldn't be... unpleasant."

"Most days I'm up to my elbows in somebody's guts. I can deal with unpleasant. I am not going to have you or your brother doing more for my daughter than me. I don't care what it takes. Port Charles is Carly's home... Michael's home. And I want them home."

Nikolas steps off of the elevator into the Deception offices. Elton comes to his feet as soon as he sees Nikolas. "Prince Nikolas!"

"Is Gia around?"

"She doesn't have any appointments in the building today." Elton answers.

"Is my mother in."

"She's in her office. I told her that you'd be stopping by."

"Good. Make sure we are not disturbed." Nikolas goes over to Laura's door and knocking once enters shutting the door firmly behind him. "Mother, I apologize for not getting back to you sooner. You wanted to speak to me?"

Laura comes to her feet. "Nikolas! I am so happy to see you! How are you?"

"Well and you?" Nikolas takes in the lines of strain that surround Laura's eyes.

"I'm fine. Come over here. Lets have a seat." Laura goes over to the couch and pats the place next to her. "Did you want something to drink... water, a soda, coffee?"

"No, thank you. It sounded rather urgent on the phone. What can I do for you?"

Laura takes a deep breath. "This is so embarassing. And I hate asking you... Nikolas, I have a ... balloon payment coming due on a note I took out for Deception. And normally it would be no problem. But things have been kind of crazy lately. I haven't been able to get something I need for the perfume and then the bottle makers went out on strike..."

"Of course. How much do you need?" Nikolas offers easily.

"Fifty thousand dollars by the end of business today. I know it's a lot. I just need a couple more days and I'll be able to pay you back."

Nikolas nods in understanding. "Getting financing from Sonny Corinthos was a mistake. But then you never did ask me for my opinion."

Laura recoils. "I didn't say anything about Sonny."

"No, you didn't. The money is not a problem." Nikolas reaches into his pocket and pulls out a check for not 50G's but that plus two million. It is made out to Jason Morgan. "I believe this is the amount you need."

Laura takes the check and looks at it. "This isn't what I'm asking for."

"It is what I'm offering, Mother. Take it or leave it. It is of no concern to me. The financing of Deception is no secret in this town, Mother. No reputable bank or individual will go into business with the mob."

"The money is from Sonny's legal enterprises! I made sure of that. And Sonny has no real say in Deception. He gave that up when he sold Carly's half."

"And now when you pay him off the taint will be removed from your company and if you are in a... bind in the future perhaps the banks will return your calls."

"It's too much, Nikolas I can't let you give me this." Laura says but she doesn't hand the check back.

"Of course not. I know how you feel about being indebted to the Cassadine, any Cassadine, even your own flesh and blood." Nikolas pulls out the contract that Alexis had prepared and emailed to him. "So we'll keep it strictly business. Same deal as you had with Sonny. A piece of the company in exchange for the financing."

"Nikolas!"

Nik glances down at his watch. "I have all the time in the world for you to consider my offer. Do you?"

"I just want to borrow $50,000! Not take on another partner."

"That is an unreasonable expectation, Mother. I won't go into business with Jason Morgan or Sonny Corinthos. And that is what you are asking me to do with a loan of $50,000 to Deception. I am willing to do business with you not them." Nik pulls out a pen from inside his pocket and unscrews the top. "ELTON!" Elton half falls into Laura's office. "Mother?" Nik holds out the pen to Laura. Laura reluctantly takes the pen and then looks at the contracts.
There are paper clips at various points where her signature is needed. She slowly signs at the first paperclip and then at all the rest. One after another until all three copies of the contract are signed. She hands the pen back to Nikolas who silently signs his name to the contract below Laura's name. Nikolas then hands the pen to Elton who wide eyed at the tense and silent transaction quickly adds his signature as witness. After it is all done, Nikolas folds up the contracts handing one to Laura and pocketing the other two. Nik rises to his feet and holds out his hand. "I'll take the check to Jason if you'd like."

Laura reluctantly hands it over. "Nikolas..."

"I'll see you tomorrow morning, Mother. I'll be taking Carly's old office." Pocketing the check, he walks from the office.

Elton races after him to the doorway and sticks his head out. Turning back around to Laura he stares slack jawed before getting himself back together and asking, " What in the hell just happened?!"

"I don't know." Laura whispers. "I don't know. Call Scotty for me. Please."

"I'm right on that." Elton says quickly, leaving Laura's office and going to his desk. Quickly he dons his headset and hits a preset on his phone. "Miss Thang! Pick up, Have I got something to tell you!"

Down in the parking lot, Nikolas takes a deep breath. That hadn't been fun. But the task is scarcely finished. He points the jag in the direction of the Morgan/Corinthos coffee warehouse.

Michael comes into the study and drags the chair opposite the desk closer then climbs into it and folds his arms on the desk and puts his chin down on his arms. He doesn't say a word, just stares at Stavros. Stavros swallows a smile. He'd know the minute Michael had been dropped off by young Sophie's parents. The whole atmosphere of the house changed. Stavros flips over a page of the report he is reading. Michael sighs heavily. Stavros quirks a brow and glances up from his paperwork. Michael sighs again heavier this time. "Stavros?"

"Hmmm?"

"Watcha doing?"

"Homework."

"Oh." Michael sighs again. "Stavros?"

"Hmmm?"

"Where's Mama?"

That gives Stavros pause and he answers carefully. "Your mother is asleep in my room."

Michael nods. "I don't think Mama likes sleepin' by herself. I shoulda thought of that afore I went to Sophie's. Did she cry?" Michael worries.

Stavros sets the paperwork aside. "While your mother always prefers--likes better-- when you are home, I think I kept her busy enough."

"Watcha do?"

"We played games on the computer for awhile then we went out to a party after dinner at the house of some old friends of my family. What did you do over at Sophie's?"

"Well we went skiing and everything and then dinner. I remembered to hold Sophie's maman's chair." Michael looks over for Stavros' nod of approval. "And after dinner we played video games til it was time to go to bed."

"Did you have fun?"

"Sure, but Sophie's 'cation is over. They have to go back to Paris. That's in France. So Sophie can go back to school. And her father has to go back to work. He's got business. I hate business."

"I don't know about that one, Michael. We went to Istanbul because of business. And your mother did business at the Dead Sea and in Puerto Rico too."

"Yabbut, Uncle Sonny and Uncle Jason always leave because of business-- we always go. It's different! Our business is fun; theirs sucks!"

Just then the cell phone rings. Stavros picks up. "Stavros Cassadine. She's unavailable. Can I take a message, Jason?"

"It's Uncle Jason! Can I talk to him?! Please? Please?!"

Stavros holds up one finger to silence Michael. Stavros quickly writes a message on a piece of paper. "I think Carly would prefer that interest not be sold but rather proxied to Nikolas until her return to Port Charles. But I will have her return your call to verify. Will that be sufficient?" Stavros nods. "Michael is here and wishes to speak to you." Stavros hands the phone over.
"Hey Uncle Jason!" Michael hugs the phone to his ear. "Guess where we are?!"

Jason leans back in his chair. He waves Nikolas to a chair across the desk from him. This might take a while. "I'll bite. Where are you?... Switzerland? When did you get there, Buddy? It sounds like you are having a good time. Your mother took you dancing at a club?! Yeah, I think I want pictures. Are you going to make another book? I'll look forward to it. Hey Mr. Man, it's getting kinda late here. Let your mama know I called. Love you too. Bye." Jason hangs up the phone.

"Snow forts instead of sand castles?" Nik asks.

"Yeah, and he's got a girlfriend." Jason gets back to to business. "Let me see if I got this right. You bought out what Laura financed--50% of Deception. That leaves the 48%, Carly's half, she got for a dollar from Sonny and then the 2% Sonny retains. I'm not going to sell the 2%."

"But..."

"I'll proxy it to you. Until either Sonny or Carly gets back."

"How is Carly planning on getting the other 48% from my mother?"

Jason grins. "Couldn't tell ya. I'm staying out of it. Thanks for this. I'll messenger over the loan papers to Laura marked paid in full as soon as the check clears."

"She did what you said she would." Nik admits grudgingly.

Jason holds up the check. "And thanks to this, I'm out of it. Michael's money is back to the bank where it can be invested in something profitable."

"Deception is profitable."

"Yeah, right. So where is all the money going?"

"Other than Carly's sabotage?"

"Now why would Carly sabotage Deception?"

"And they say you don't lie."

"Yeah, they do."

"Where is Gia?"

Jason just looks at him and finally answers. "You are the majority owner of the place she works. You can find out yourself."

Meanwhile cross town over at Deception, Scott has had time to read the contract and absorb the ramifications. "You signed it without reading it?" Both of Scott's eyebrows go up.

"He's my son, Scott."

"Who had Alexis write this up." Scott taps the contract. "I'd recognize her work anywhere."

"Is there something..." Laura worries.

"Nah, it's tight. Fair too, I guess. Lots of standard clauses." Scott flips thru the contract. "Audit. That's standard for a new investor, two signatures on checks. That works considering he's now the majority holder."

"He's WHAT?!" Laura sweeps to her feet.

"Yeah, this clause here." Scott holds the contract up to Laura. "The one that says he is buying what you financed with Corinthos... that's half."

"But I thought..."

"You own outright the 48% that Corinthos sold you for a $1-- his wife's portion. Now you just have to get the other 2% out of Sonny's hands and you'll be free of the mob. Or at least get Sonny voting your way. Then it's a tie just like before." Scott adds grudgingly. "Corinthos never voted against you."

"Sonny's gone. Jason has taken over all of Sonny's business. I don't own Deception." It finally sinks in.

"Well.. you've got half. The same half Carly had."