Risk

Chapter XXI

Nik walks into the L&B building closer to noon than nine.

"Well? What did you think?" Ned looks up from the sheet music he has spread out all over the coffee table.

"They're good. You should make the offer." Nik's tone is glum.

"I'm not sensing a lot of excitement." Ned hesitates. "When I find a gem... you'd have to pull me off the ceiling."

"The band was great. It's something else." Nik admits.

Kristina comes out of the back room. She walks up to Nikolas and gives him a hug and then steps back. Reaching up to cup the side of his face. "Something is wrong."

"It's nothing."

"It's Alexis... you've heard something about Alexis!" Kristina says frantically. She grabs hold of Nik's hand and squeezes hard. "Where is she? How is she? She isn't dead I'd know. I'd feel it."

"What in the hell are you talking about?!" Nik looks from his aunt to Ned.

Ned sighs. He closes his eyes and then rubs them with the palm of his hand. "Alexis is gone. Kristina found a note in her penthouse from Stavros... saying it was the time for accounting."

"Jax is looking for her." Kristina adds reassuringly.

"Why didn't anyone say anything to me?" Nik shakes his head.

"We didn't want to worry you." Kristina says sheepishly. "Which I guess I just did."

Nik pulls out his cell phone and dials a number. "Carly, put my father on the phone."

"CARLY! Carly is with Stavros?! What the hell?" Ned explodes to his feet. "I thought Sonny had killed her."

Nik rolls his eyes and holds a hand to his off ear to shut out Ned's rantings. Kristina hushes Ned. "You pick now to start listening to Taggart?"

"Okay so it was wishful thinking." Ned blurts. "Other than worrying where Michael was... but I figured some mobster youth boarding school where he could be safe from Sonny and AJ both."

Kristina shakes her head. After a short conversation Nik hangs up the phone. He frowns. "Yeah, Stavros says he has an appointment with Alexis to go over the estate. Alexis handled the bulk of the legal work when Stefan was regent. Stefan also had an accounting when we were in Greece."

"That's where you went? Greece?" Ned asks.

Nik nods. "Gia and I..." A wave of pain hits him and he chokes it back. "The estate lawyers contacted Stefan... told him the true heir was planning on claiming the estate. It was the first time we knew for sure Stavros had surfaced-- although Stefan never really believed he was dead. Jason figured out Carly was with Stavros. Carly has been sending pictures to Bobbie of her and Michael. I found one of the pictures and realized they were in Greece... so G... so I went to Greece to find out what was going on."

"Why didn't anyone tell me?" Kristina protests.

"Oh probably the same reason you didn't tell me Alexis was gone?" Nik retorts.

"Guilty." Kristina shrugs and shakes her head. "Carly? And your father?"

"How long?" Ned asks. "Is Michael with them?"

"Months. Of course Michael is there. Anywhere Carly is... Michael is. Look this is nothing to worry about. Stavros has changed. He and Stefan even made a truce. He's just taking back what is his. Which is fine with me. I never wanted the headache anyway."

"And how does your mother feel about that?" Kristina asks. She'd been filled in on all the stories. She'd gotten a glimpse of the Cassadine family warts and all since her introduction.

"Laura knows he is alive. I think she's talked to Stefan."

"What about Alexis?" Ned demands.

"It's probably just the same thing as what Stefan had. A really uncomfortable meeting in a library where every single decision since Luke killed Stavros the first time is questioned while Carly takes notes."

"Nikolas, Alexis has been gone for days. We've been frantic! It isn't an appointment; it was a kidnapping."

Nikolas winces. "I said my father has changed. But I don't claim any miracles. He is still The Prince. That means anything related to the estate is on his time frame."

"Your father is a homicidal megalomaniac." Ned asserts. "No offense."

"None taken." Nik says wryly. "And Carly is working on the problem."

"Oh that's a comfort."

Johnny eyes the door carefully ready to hang up at the first sign Mr Corinthos was coming out. "Yeah, it's me."

"What's up Johnny."

"Mrs Corinthos called the boss. Said she wants to meet him in Puerto Rico. She was really upset."

"Did you talk to her?"

"No, I heard the boss talking to her. Me and Mr Jacks both heard. I think that Jacks guy has already gone to Puerto Rico. He's looking for that Cassadine dude."

"Is Sonny going to go?"

"He's packing a bag now. He's already cleared his calendar."

"Who is going with him?"

"Me."

"Right. Tell Sonny you called me and I'll cover while he's gone."

"Right. Anything else?"

"Have Carly call me." Jason says grimly. She just can't stay out of it. "And be ready for anything."

"When Mrs Corinthos is involved I always am." Johnny hangs up when he hears the door opening and stashes the cell phone in his inside jacket pocket. He takes the bag from Sonny and puts it in his off hand keeping his strong hand free in case of trouble. "I talked to Jason. He knows you're going out of town he'll keep an eye on things while you are gone."

"Good that will save me a call." Sonny nods and hits the down button.

Jason sighs a heavily put upon sigh. "Damn Carly." His eyes narrow as he tries to figure out what the hell she is up to. Unconsciously he rubs the back of his head and then realizes what he is doing. "Damn Carly and her win/win scenarios. I hope there are no ming vases around."

"Did you need anything else, Jason?" Penny asks as she picks up his lunch platter.

"Nah thanks just the check." Jason says absently. "Oh and a coffee to go. I have to get back to the warehouse."

Penny shakes her head. There is just somethin' kinda ironic about taking a coffee to go to a coffee warehouse. "I'll get that for you." With efficient movements that waste no motion, a large coffee to go is placed in front of Jason along with the amended check.

Jason glances at the bill. He pulls out the exact amount of the tab and then pulls out an extra twenty. "Try to keep a better eye on this one."

"Jason..." Penny is flabbergasted. "You don't have to..."

"I know I don't. Bobbie really came thru for you. She's a good boss."

"The best." Penny nods in agreement.

Jason recalls all the things Carly had told him about Liz that he'd just taken as exaggerations. Which were probably still exaggerated but less than he'd originally believed. "Let me know if you have any problems." Picking up the coffee cup he strides toward the door. He runs right into Gia spilling the hot coffee down the front of her.

"Oh sonvabitch!" Gia jumps back as coffee splashs toward her. Those lids never stay on tight. "Ow, ow, ow!"

"Are you okay?" Jason asks. He tosses the coffee into the trash can outside the door.

Gia brushes down her coat. "Yeah. It didn't really get me. But you are so getting a drycleaning bill. This is a topper on a really fucked day."

"It's not even half over." Jason reminds as he bends over to pick up the folder Gia had dropped in her hurry to get back from the coffee. The papers are scattered on the sidewalk. He picks them up and stuffs them back in the folder.

"Aren't you just a bundle of sunshine?" Gia bitches. She takes the folder from Jason and finds the rest of the papers quickly stuffing them into the folder.

Holding back one last piece of paper, Jason glances over it. Jason recognizes a contract from his brief scan. "Your contract with Deception? Why are you carrying around your contract?"

Gia snorts. "To quote a really tight lipped guy in Greece... It's none of your business."

"True." Jason shrugs. "Send me the bill for the drycleaning." He continues on his way.

Gia shakes her head and then goes into Kelly's. Considering Liz had been fired the day before this would be hopefully a musketeer free zone. Last thing she needed was Nik or any of the others right now. Gia picks a table next to the wall and the jukebox. Penny comes over to the table and leaves a menu. "I'm waiting for my brother. He should be here any time now."

"Anything to drink while you wait?"

"Water would be good I guess." Penny nods and walks away. Gia opens up the folder and starts trying to make order of it.

Taggart breezes in and spots Gia right off. He leans over and gives her a kiss on the top of her head. "Hey baby sis."

"Hey Marcus." Gia smiles at her brother.

"What's up?" He slides into the seat across from her and shrugs out of his leather jacket.

"Wanted you to know. And you have to promise to keep your temper." Taggart stiffens in his seat. "I'm living at the Port Charles Hotel again but not for long-- I need to get my own place."

Taggart looks at her bare left hand. "That little sonofabitch! I'll kill him."

"No." Gia reaches out and covers his closed fist on the table. "You warned me. I'm okay. Okay, so I'll be okay. Eventually. I want distance. And that means not having you do anything to him." Gia bites her lip. "I just need you to back me with Mom. I really don't want to hear about my decision making ability right now."

"Feeling kinda kicked?" Taggart says sympathetically.

Gia starts tearing up. "And don't be nice to me. I don't think I could take that."

Penny walks up. Taggart looks up to her. "We want two hot fudge sundaes extra fudge... give her both the cherries and I'll take all the nuts." Penny nods and walks off. "No arguments. You need it. And it isn't being nice. Think of all the miles you'll have to jog to work it off." Taggart justifies. He gets a serious look on his face. "Just remember if you need to talk. I've been there. What happened with Hannah..."

"That bitch! You treated her like a queen!" Gia pops to her brother's defense before he can even finish his sentence.

"Yeah, and you treated Cassadine like a prince. His loss, Cupcake."

"Maybe in a year or ten I'll feel that way." Gia exhales blowing out a deep breath. "About Mom..."

"I'll run interference." Taggart nods. "You know what this means, don't you?"

"What's that?"

"She's probably got her eye on some intern who'd be perfect for you... or at least trainable." Taggart teases.

Gia groans. "Please Marcus. Please save me from our mother."

Nik is sitting on the couch at L&B. His legs are stretched out in front of him and he is staring off into the distance.

Kristina comes over and plops down next to him curling her legs under her. "So if it wasn't Alexis... what is going on? You're hurting I can tell."

"Gia broke up with me last night."

"Oh Nikolas." Kristina reaches out to take his hand. "I'm so sorry. Why? The two of you seemed so happy!"

"We were. We really were." Nik shakes his head. Then he brushes the palm of his hand over his forehead pressing back the headache. "Gia put me on notice in Greece. She thought I put her down in front of people. She said if I did it again that she'd walk. Last night she walked."

"But that's impossible! Anyone that saw the two of you together knows that you adore her!" Kristina defends her nephew. "You've been thru so much together. I know Gia loves you."

"I guess sometimes love isn't enough." Nik says morosely. "It's like some kind of Cassadine curse."

Kristina decides to change the subject. "What was it like... with your father?"

"Strange." Nik admits. "I know nobody trusts him. Stefan was really hoping that when Jason Morgan found my father that he'd kill him. But it didn't happen. Jason actually seemed to get along with my father. You know what Stavros does every day?"

"What?"

"Builds sandcastles with Michael."

"Sandcastles?" Both of Kristina's brows go up.

"Yeah, hard to believe right? Evidently Carly isn't a morning person, so while she sleeps in Michael and Stavros go down to the cove... build sandcastles. I think he's teaching Michael to swim too."

Kristina shakes her head. "I don't believe it. This is like nothing I've heard about Stavros."

"I was so sure it was a set up of sorts." Nikolas agrees. "While the monster everyone tells me my father is might be able to fake his way through a weekend... put on a good facade. But Michael, Kristina. He wasn't faking. He's been living with my father for months."

"What do you think is really going on then?"

"I think he is making up for lost time." Nikolas suggests. "I was just a few months old when my mother left us. And then he was killed."

Kristina laughs. "Okay so you are saying that Carly Corinthos is a substitute for your mother?! Everyone in town seems to have an opinion about Carly. But I've never heard it said that she and Laura were anything alike."

"They aren't." Nik agrees. "They are both blonde, both beautiful. But nothing alike."

Ned has come out of the back room in time to hear the last couple comments. "Yeah, Carly has more in common with Helena. She's a psycho maneater. She pulled some doozy schemes when she was married to AJ. One thing I will say for her though... the clients loved her when she wanted them to. I think she's one of the few reasons AJ did as well as he did while he was in charge of ELQ."

"What ever my father is doing... Carly is in it up to her ears." Nikolas agrees with a nod. "You saw. She answers his phone. Anyone who wants to talk to my father has to go thru Carly." His voice takes on a warning tone for Ned. "And anyone who goes after her... or Michael will have to go through my father. I don't know what resources Carly has... but I know what my father has down to the penny. They never have to come back here. And Edward would never be able to track them-- if that's what they want."

"Yeah, that sounds like Carly." Ned nods. "She goes for the most powerful guy she can find. Don't know what the hell she saw in Junior. She must have been really drunk."

"Oh Honey! Are you okay?" Laura pulls Liz into a warm embrace and then leans back to look at her. "I don't know what Bobbie was thinking!"

"It's okay." Liz says bravely. "I'll just have to find another job. And I can always go back and live with Gram if things get tight so I won't lose my studio."

"I can't believe Dad couldn't get Aunt Bobbie to change her mind." Lucky shakes his head still not believing that one.

Laura sniffs. "That was probably all about Stefan. Bobbie's got something to prove. She was totally unreasonable when I went to talk to her."

"You talked to her about Kelly's?" Liz's eyes go wide figuring she was busted for sure. Lucky just wouldn't let it go.

"No. This was before... it was about something else." Laura goes for discreet. How is she going to keep this all from Luke if everyone in town including Elton knew that Stavros was alive and on the move?"

"Mom, Nikolas and Gia just got back from Greece. Elizabeth knows." Lucky inserts when he sees his mother's verbal tapdance. "And she knows Stefan and Bobbie were there too. Elizabeth and I don't have any secrets." Unseen by Lucky, Liz looks toward the floor almost imperceptively wincing.

"Oh Mrs Spencer, Mrs Spencer!" Elton bursts into the office. "Oh I'm so sorry. I didn't know you had.... I just got back from lunch and realized you were here..."

"What is it, Elton?"

"I should really wait... But call me." Elton mimes a phone receiver at his ear. "It's huge." He shuts the door again.

Laura steps away from Lucky and Liz. "I need to go find out what is going on. You two stay here." Laura goes out into the reception area making sure her door is shut. "What is it, Elton? Istanbul?"

"No, but I have a call into them." Elton leans in and then looking both ways says in a low tone. "Gia and your son have called off their engagement!"

"That's impossible." Laura shakes her head.

"Gia told me herself just this morning! She's given back that gorgeous ring and is living at the Port Charles Hotel. She let me know her change of address."

Laura looks from Elton to the door to her office. "I'll be right back." Laura goes back into her office. Lucky is looking thru some negatives from the last shoot. Liz is looking out the window. "Lucky, have you talked to Nikolas today?"

Lucky looks up from what he is doing. "No, why?"

"Know of any problems between him and Gia?"

"Why?" Lucky asks again not answering. Yeah, so he'd been ticked at Gia too last night but he thought Nik had taken it too far. It had been really weird. After Nik had started in about Gia telling Jason Elizabeth's business... he'd seen it. Gia had started to argue and then went blank just standing there while Nik defended Elizabeth. But her face had been cold, a mask. It had been the end of the evening.

"They've ended their engagement."

Evidently not just the end of the evening. Lucky winces. "I'll talk to Nik."

Gia puts the apartment ads down on the security desk of the Harbor View towers. "I'm here about the apartment. The one bedroom."

"I'll call the leasing office for you." The rent a cop dials the number and lets the agent know there is someone there about the apartment. A well dressed young woman comes out of an office on the main floor.

"Aren't you... Gia Campbell? The model for Deception?"

"Yeah. You have an apartment for rent?" Gia tries to keep it to business.

"Well all of our penthouses are occupied I'm afraid." The woman shakes her head.

"I don't want a penthouse. Frankly I don't want anything over the third floor."

The woman is taken aback. "Really?"

"It's a fire thing. I don't want to be up any higher than I'm willing to walk out of."

The agent winces remembering the disaster when Mr Corinthos had that fire on the top floor and the elevators had been down. "Perfectly reasonable. I have a couple of lovely apartments on four. I know you said three... but let me just show them to you." She leads the way to the elevators.

"I travel alot for my job... what kind of security etc do you have here?" Gia looks around and sighs. Marcus would freak about her living here. But she needed something more permenant than the Hotel. And this even as expensive as it is, is still cheaper than an extended stay at the hotel. And smaller places like the brownstone just didn't have the security to deal with bizarro stalker fans.

"Well 24 hour security of course. The desk is always manned. Our tenants like their privacy. And we have a dry cleaning pickup for your convenience as well as a contracted cleaning service that's been fully investigated...." The woman is still talking when the doors shut on the elevator.

Jason strides into the lobby. "Hey Gary."

The guard's head swings back from where he'd been watching the sweet rear view enter the elevator. "Mr Morgan. Mr Corinthos isn't in."

"I know. I'll be crashing here until he gets back. What was so interesting?"

Gary holds up a magazine that one of the tenants had left behind on his desk. "She was just here."

"Gia Campbell? Why?"

"She might be moving in. What a honey. You ever think a gal like that and a guy like me..." The slightly overweight and balding guy sucks in his gut and sits up straight.

"She's engaged to Nikolas Cassadine." Jason says flatly. He picks up and starts sorting thru Sonny's mail tossing the junk and pocketing the personal stuff for Sonny to sort thru later.

"I didn't see any ring. Believe me I looked."

"Really. See ya later, Gary."

"See ya later, Mr Morgan."

Once on the elevator, Jason hits the button for the penthouse floor. The elevator is smooth and swift. Jason unlocks the penthouse and tosses the mail on the desk. He frowns. Something is off. Pulling out an address book from the middle of the desk he finds a number. "Yeah, this is Jason Morgan. Is Gia Campbell still with you?" Jason nods at the answer. "Make it a sweet deal. I'll make up the difference. And she doesn't need to know about this call."

Nik walks through the hospital greeting people he knows from working at the volunteer program. Finally he gets to Stefan's office. Knocking on the door he enters. Bobbie and Stefan are both there. While the knock had alerted them enough that they aren't actually touching, the electricity is obvious even to someone as out of it as Nik is feeling. "Sorry, I guess this is a bad time."

"No, don't go, Nikolas." Bobbie says quickly. "I was just leaving." She glances down at her watch. "I have to be checking tomorrow's surgery schedule anyway."

"Thanks Bobbie." Nik says gratefully.

As Bobbie walks by Nikolas she looks up at him. She frowns and then reaches up to cup his face. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Nik fakes cheer and half smiles.

Bobbie looks over her shoulder at Stefan and shakes her head not believing a word. Stefan nods in agreement. "Okay. Then I'll see you later." Bobbie makes sure the door is shut tight so that Stefan and Nikolas won't be disturbed.

"So... you and Bobbie..." Nik lifts a brow.

"We were discussing a diabetes study for Lucas that looks promising-- in a few years." Stefan waves Nik to a chair. "But you are not here to talk to me about Barbara."

Nik slumps into the chair across from Stefan's desk. Stefan frowns at Nik's posture but bites his tongue. "Indirectly I guess I am. Gia broke up with me last night."

Stefan sits back down behind the desk. "This is... unexpected. How does it involve Barbara?"

"Bobbie fired Elizabeth Webber from her job at Kelly's. It's all a misunderstanding of course but Bobbie won't be swayed."

"Why does Ms Webber's termination have anything to do with the end of your engagement?"

"Gia told Jason that Elizabeth got fired. It was none of his business. She had no business telling him anything."

"And I say again. What does Ms Webber's termination have to do with the end of your engagement?"

"We were out with Lucky and Elizabeth last night checking out a band for L&B. After I found out what she told Jason... I called her on it." Stefan winces which Nikolas observes. "I know I could have handled it better. But damnit! It was none of his business! Yeah, Gia told me that if I disagreed with her on something we should discuss it privately. But the exception was family! Liz is family!"

Stefan shakes his head. "No. She's not."

"Elizabeth is my brother's fiance! And one of my dearest friends." Nik pops up out of his chair and starts to pace. "I still can't believe that Bobbie fired her."

"Elizabeth is not your brother's wife. And I seriously doubt that she is one of Gia's dearest friends. Not the way Elizabeth was involved in your scheme to deceive Helena. Or even before that... when they were in competition for The Face of Deception." Stefan shakes his head. "This is too familiar."

"What do you mean?"

"When we were in Greece. Gia said something then. Something incredibley vulgar. This isn't the first time she's believed you have taken the side of another. Since Gia believes I don't care for her or approve of your choice to marry her... that she reacted so crassly in front of me is just further evidence that it is an unhealed wound you have opened."

"I can't lose her!" Nikolas protests. "I have to get her back."

Stefan leans back in his chair. "There is something missing here. You don't have all of the information."

"Excuse me?" Nikolas stops in his tracks and turns to his uncle.

"Miss Webber is lying."

"Elizabeth? No. That's impossible." Nik shakes his head.

"Nikolas I know my... I know Barbara. There are too many ties between her family and Miss Webber's: Lucky, Luke, Laura, You, Audrey Hardy. Barbara wouldn't have terminated her lightly or without thought. It would have been a decision she would have been tormented over... and yet Barbara still fired Miss Webber. Knowing the high probability of significant personal fallout. You don't have all the information. I think you should reconsider feeling her to be one of your dearest friends. Your sympathies are better served elsewhere."

"I talked to my father today." Nik changes the subject. "Why didn't you tell me that Alexis was missing?"

Stefan winces. "I was hoping to talk to Stavros before I talked to you. He has yet to return my phone call. Barbara talked to Caroline but they were... disconnected before Alexis was mentioned."

"He says it's just an estate accounting. Nobody believes that. Not Ned, Kristina or Jax. Jax is out looking for Alexis now."

"And he'll find her." Stefan nods.

"How do you know?"

"Stavros wants Jax to find her. Nikolas... it's not Alexis' accounting but Jax's."

Nikolas swears realizing the missing piece. "All of the estate Jax grabbed when grandmother was in charge. Father wants it back."

"And Alexis is bait." Stefan nods. "Being used to keep Mr Jacks off balance."

"Why aren't you doing something?!"

Stefan stiffens. "And you think I'm not?! Alexis is my sister. I have phone calls going all over the world. Just because I won't waste my time flying off at the drop of a hat to the last place your father and Caroline were; doesn't mean that I'm not looking for my sister. And just because I realize what Stavros is doing-- doesn't mean that I approve. My approval was not sought."

"I'm sorry. I was out of line." Nik sighs. "It's just been a really bad day. You don't think... My father wouldn't..."

"He won't kill her." Stefan says flatly. of course that leaves a long ugly list of possibilities you could never imagine. "Whatever Stavros thinks of Alexis; he knows she is Mikkos' daughter. That means something to him." Nikolas nods wanting to be convinced. He goes over toward the door. Stefan stands as well and goes over to his nephew. He gives Nikolas a hug. Nikolas returns it... needing the feeling of support from the closest thing he'd had to a father all of his life. "If Gia is with whom you wish spend the rest of your life... don't let this misunderstanding with Miss Webber interfere." Stefan steps back and puts both hands on Nikolas' shoulders. "I have every confidence in you. You are the best of us."

Nikolas nods. "Thank you, uncle." Stefan's hands fall to his sides. Nikolas opens the door looking back over his shoulder he offers a last comment. "I like you with Bobbie. I always have. She's good for you."

"Enough of your nose in my business. You have your own bride to woo." Stefan ushers Nikolas out.

For the first time today things are beginning to look up. Nik realizes. Okay not looking up but at least he had a direction. Nik pauses by the elevator when he sees a familiar redhead at the nurse's station. "Bobbie, do you have a minute."

Bobbie glances up. "Sure. For you." She finishes her notation and steps away from the station. "Whatever Stefan said to you made you feel better."

"Yes. He did. It'll all be out soon enough." Nik begins making an active choice to reveal something in the hopes of getting the information his uncle said he lacks. "Gia broke up with me last night. We had a huge argument about her telling Jason about Elizabeth being fired from Kelly's."

"But... but..." Bobbie sputters.

"What?"

"Jason already knew."

"Excuse me?"

"I talked to him. I talked to all of the customers from..." Bobbie snaps her mouth shut.

"Elizabeth said Gia told Jason about her being fired."

Bobbie shakes her head. "Maybe Gia did. I don't know. But Jason already knew... and Elizabeth knows he knows why she was fired. Oh Nikolas. This is terrible."

Gia looks around the airy rooms of the apartment. It had everything even furnishings.... and a view. The angle of the building gives her a view of the river that she hadn't been expecting. It was a floor higher than her actual preference but hey that's only one flight of stairs?!

"We have some apartments that are set aside of short term lease. Visiting executives and such." The leasing agent explains the furnishings. "I always find it's easier for potential tenants to see the possibilities. If you want the apartment... they'll just be moved to another apartment or storage."

"How much?" Gia turns from the window. "Including the furnishing." The agent states a figure below what Gia had planned on paying for an unfurnished apartment. Gia's brow goes up. Anything that seemed too good to be true... was too good to be true.

"We like to have full occupancy here at the Harbor View but you understand that rate is based on a long term lease. While we have a few apartments set aside for the visiting executives... we do like to have familiar faces in the elevator." The agent explains.

"How long?"

"A year. Anything less and the rates go up substancially." The agent quotes a rate a third higher.

"Ouch." Gia winces. She looks around the rooms. The hotel is a drain on her resources... over a hundred dollars a day and it would make going back to Nikolas too easy... if he even tried to get her back. "I'll take it. Where do I sign?"

"Great! All the paperwork is down in my office."

"Then lets go." Gia takes a deep breath. "I want to move out of the Hotel today." It seems like nothing flat and Gia is on her way out of the Towers with keys in her hand and her wallet considerably lighter on her way to Wyndams to buy some new bedding.

The agent calls up to the penthouse looking down at the signed lease with the attached check as she speaks. "Ms Campbell signed a one year lease. Apartment 458." Reaching for her calculator she pumps in some figures. "She took it furnished. I need a check for... over the course of a year lease... $7,200. Right. Pleasure doing business with you, Mr Morgan."