Risk

Chapter XXIX

Explanations

"Yeah? What about the rest of it?" Jason stands in the living area of his hotel suite on the phone. The annoying ringing had drug him out of the shower. For as much as he was paying for this damn suite they should have had a phone in the bathroom. He towels off impatiently and reaches for his jeans out of his overnight bag that is sitting on the desk. Now that the meeting was over he could wear what he liked. He puts his jeans on like everyone else-- one leg at a time then making minute adjustments and zipping up. "No damn it! That is not going to cut it. When I face this guy down I want everything back to his first day of school. I wanna know who his friends are, who his enemies are. I wanna know if he had anything to do with the way his boss went down. Get me everything, Benny. I'll sort out the fact from fiction." Jason hears a throat clearing behind him and straightens. He turns around and Gia is laying there on the couch clutching one of the little decorative pillows to her stomach. Gia gives him a little guilty wave. "I gotta go. Find out what you can. I don't wanna spend any more time here. If it's gonna take longer you're flying back commercial." Jason hangs up the phone and just looks in Gia's direction.

"Sorry. I thought I couldn't sleep last night and was watching some tv. I must have dozed off."

"And when the phone rang?"

"That's what woke me up."

"Enjoy the floor show?" Jason refers to the wet towel on the floor.

Gia grins. "Liz had all that and she was painting the wind? I knew that girl had no sense whatsoever."

"Elizabeth never had all that and never will." Jason states flatly.

"Really?! She spent a lot of time in your room. And on your... bike."

"Exactly." Jason reaches down and buttons the top button on his jeans. "I'm going back to Port Charles today after I check out of here. Do you want a lift back?"

Gia gives a soft sigh of disappointment. It was a crime against womanhood to give this guy any clothes whatsoever but he did fill out jeans nicely. "I'll take a lift to the airport. Only fair to let Laura pay for my ride home."

"She owes you a hell of a lot more than that. What the hell was she thinking?"

Gia shrugs and rises from the couch. She is dressed in flannel pj's that cover her from neck to toe. Another piece of advice from her mother... always dress as if there is going to be a fire. Especially if you are in a hotel-- no need to be flashing your goodies to the guys in the stairwells. She folds up the spare blanket she'd grabbed from the bed the night before. "You'd have to ask her."

"Don't think I won't."

Gia pauses in going back to the room Jason had offered her. "What happened to staying out of it?"

"You know Stavros left Sonny a note down in Martinique?"

"Okay I have no idea what you are talking about." Gia leans in the doorway facing the living room so she can keep an eye on Jason. She'd always found you can find out almost as much by body language as you could from what a person said. With some folks more.

"When Sonny and Carly went down to get a divorce and then Carly left with Stavros. Stavros left a note for Sonny. Said be careful what you wish for."

"What does that have to do with Laura?"

"She borrowed money from Sonny for the startup of Deception. Was very particular on the clauses and such... to make sure that the money was legit and it was just a loan."

"Is her note coming due?" Gia asks curiously. This is something she'd never heard before. The financing of Deception had always seemed rock solid if unorthodox.

"Sonny had it written so that all the perks were going Laura's way. He's always had a soft spot for the Spencers. Laura was the one that insisted it be a loan. I think I'll review that contract when I get back to PC."

"But that was with Sonny." Gia protests. "Sonny totally screwed Carly out of Deception."

"Sonny and I are equal partners and have power of attorney on each other. It comes in handy when I'm out of town... or when he is."

"You're pissed." Gia realizes.

"I was always taught... a good boss takes care of his people. If Laura doesn't want you as Face of Deception then she should have fired you and bought out your contract-- clean and quick. Not set you up to be humiliated, raped or worse. If she wanted you humiliated by sending you to that meat market then she should have given you protection. She's been dealing with danger longer than I have. She should have known better. Taggart should have known better."

"Marcus didn't know anything about this." Gia protests. "I left him a voice mail telling him I was doing an out of town appearance but that's it. I didn't even know it was a car show until I got here."

Jason processes that information and then reaches for the phone again. "You want breakfast from room service?"

"I guess."

"What you want?"

"What ever your having is fine." Gia shrugs. She steps back into the second bedroom and shuts the door locking it. Getting her stuff together she hits the shower.

Nikolas is on Laura's doorstep knocking impatiently on the door. By the time he'd gotten done with Bobbie it had been too late to call or stop by his mother's house. Instead he'd waited outside until he started to see lights come on. Laura comes to the door wiping her hands. She'd just gotten Lulu settled down in the kitchen with her cereal and juice. As Laura opens the door, Nikolas stalks into the foyer and down into the living room. "Where is Gia?"

"Hello to you too." Laura shuts the door.

"Where is Gia? I know she's somewhere in Atlantic City. I want to know what hotel she is staying in."

"I thought that the two of you broke up? Is it really your business anymore, Nikolas?"

"Gia will always be my business." Nikolas says flatly.

Laura recoils at that one. She'd heard that tone before but it has been years. For a minute it's like Stavros is right there in the room. She steps carefully in her answer. "Honey... Gia wanted to get out of town and do some personal appearances. Specifically she wanted to get out of town... I think that's cause she wanted some distance between the two of you."

"So you sent her to a car trade show?!" Nikolas explodes. "What the hell were you thinking?! What the hell do cars have to do with perfume?! Especially a perfume like Deception?"

"It's what was available on short notice. I was doing her a favor." Laura's tones are placating.

"A favor? That's what you call a favor. Putting her out there like a piece of meat for anyone who has five bucks to get in?! Who did you send with her? Elton? Get him on the phone."

Laura shifts uncomfortably from one foot to the other. "Elton is here in town. He's taking care of the last minute details of the shoot in Italy."

"Then call whoever you sent with her." Nikolas waits for Laura's answer and it isn't coming. "You had to send someone with her... someone who was in charge of promotional pictures... getting her something to drink while she was doing autographs... some one in charge of checking the security arrangements. Who did you send with her?"

"Gia can take care of herself." Laura finally says. "Nikolas, she'll be back today. It's just Atlantic City. One appearance."

Nikolas stares at her. He struggles to speak. To find the words. "If anything happens to Gia because you failed to take the minimum security precautions I will ensure that you never have the care of another person again."

"Nikolas! Who do you think you are to speak to me that way? I'm your mother!"

"I am the former head of public relations of the Deception cosmetic company and currently the laison to new acts at L&B Records. I have been putting together public relation events for the last 3 years. I am not speaking to you as my mother who might not know better but to the President of the Deception Cosmetic company who sure as hell should have!" Nikolas slams out of the house.

Luke comes down the stairs. "Laura, call Gia." He'd heard enough of the conversation. His first thought had been to intervene when the little princeling got uppity but then he'd realized what was going on and wanted to hear the rest.

"She's fine, Luke." Laura shakes her head. "I don't know what the big deal is. It's a public appearance. Getting her face out there. Gia will be back today. It's just business-- my business." Laura says firmly.

"One of these days, baby, I'm going to take you to a trade car show." Luke says grimly. "Get her on the phone now. I don't care if you tell her it's just to see how things went. Get her on the phone right fucking now!"

"Luke, you're scaring me!" Laura reaches for her satchel and the copy of Gia's itinerary and the phone. She dials the number for Gia's assigned room. "There's no answer-- she's probably just out for a run or breakfast or something." Laura suggests but she is starting to get a bad feeling.

Luke swears again. This time more colorfully with multiples of four and six letter words. He snatches the paperwork out of Laura's hand. Grabbing the phone he calls the front desk of the hotel in Atlantic City and asks for the head of security. He lies thru his teeth about being a staffer over at Deception and wanting to get hold of Gia Campbell and being concerned about not being able to reach her and wanting security to check on her. Then he hangs up. "They're going to call back." Luke strides into the kitchen and pours himself a cup of coffee. Not that he needs it. He's wide awake. He grabs a handful of cold cereal out of Lulu's cereal box and chows down on it. Luke snorts and shakes his head his head in disgust.

"Luke..." Laura hesitates to say anything in front of Lulu.

"You're going to have to call Corinthos." Luke complains. "It's the fastest way to check on her."

Just then the phone rings. Laura races to it and picks up. "Hello? Yes, this is Laura Spencer, the president of Deception. What do you mean a security breech? What kind of security breech? Where is Gia Campbell? Why didn't she call me if she was changing rooms? What do you mean she checked out? Checked out to where?"

Gia looks at the huge breakfast in front of her with some dismay. Maybe saying *whatever you're having* had been a mistake. "There is no way I'm going to be able to eat all this."

"Eat what you want." Jason picks up a section of the paper. Like at Kelly's, his arm is cupped protectively around his food as he reads the paper. He uses the coffee carafe to angle the paper so he can read it and keep his hands free.

"Why are you being so nice to me? You hate my guts." Gia finally blurts out.

Jason sighs. What is it about women and conversation over meals? He drops the newspaper on the floor and looks over at Gia. "I don't hate your guts. You messed with my sister so we had a problem. If you want it to continue to be a problem that's up to you."

"And Elizabeth?"

"Carly wants you for whatever she is doing with Deception. She asked me to check on you. I checked on you. End of story."

"So this isn't about me. This is between you and Carly." Gia states but her tone comes out as more of a question. She has no plans to get indebted to Jason for anything. It was bad enough that he'd pulled her off that ledge in Greece now he turns around and rescues her from a couple of drunk lechs at her hotel.

Jason laughs. "It's always about me and Carly. I'm finally getting that." His face goes back to his carefully blank expression. If Gia hadnt just heard him laugh she would believe she'd imagined it. "You don't have to worry about me unless you screw over someone I care about again. Worry about Cassadines. They are crawling all over your business."

"I'm no longer Cassadine business." Gia denies but then she frowns. "Did Nikolas call you or something?"

"Stavros. Evidently while Carly was trying to call you." Gia nods remembering the message on her voice mail. "He said your being here was unacceptable. Sounds like you have more than one Cassadine in your business."
Gia groans. "I wish Carly and Stavros would get separate phones."

"Excuse me?"

"I tried to call Carly and ended up talking to him instead- cause Carly was off on business."

"Yeah, well whatever you told him got her recalled from her business. You finished with that?" Jason asks. Gia shoves her plate over to Jason's side of the table.

"Kristina, I think it's a really bad idea to come over here." Ned looks up at the huge gothic mansion that resides in the middle of the lake.

"This is where my brother lives. I have to find out if he's heard anything from Alexis... or Jax. It's been too long." Kristina goes running up the wooden stairs that lead from the docks to the house.

Ned sighs and then follows her. He catches up to her at the doorway. Leaning over her he knocks on the door. There is only time for one rap when Mrs Lansbury opens the door. "Miss Kristina." Mrs L ignores Ned. "The launch pilot called to tell me you were on your way up."

"Is Stefan here?"

"He is at breakfast. I'll tell him you're here if you'd like to wait in the library."

"No, it's okay I'll go to the dining room." Kristina moves past Mrs Lansbury to the dining room. She stops in her tracks when she sees Stefan has company. Bobbie and Lucas are both there. "Sorry. I should have called." She starts trying to back out.

"Kristina." Stefan rises to his feet. "Is there a problem?"

"I just wanted to know if you'd heard from Alexis? Jax hasn't called me and I'm worried."

Stefan glances over to Bobbie. Bobbie turns to Lucas. "Honey, it looks like Stefan is going to be running a little late. Why don't you go down to the stables and see if you can help getting Thunder ready."

Lucas looks at all the adults. "Right." He rolls his eyes and heads for the french doors. He always gets sent out of the room when things started to get interesting.

"Lucas." Lucas turns back at Stefan's calling his name. "I will be there shortly... and get your jacket." Lucas rolls his eyes again but reverses direction and goes up the stairs at a run.

Stefan goes over to the breakfast bar and reaches for the silver coffee service; he holds it up. Kristina shrugs and then nods. Stefan pours a cup of coffee into a fine china cup and brings the cup and saucer over to Kristina. "I have spoken to Stavros but Alexis was only mentioned in passing."

"In Passing?! our sister is missing and you say she is mentioned in passing!" Kristina sets down the saucer and cup before she drops them or worse-- throws them. "What do you mean in passing?"

"Alexis is fine." Stefan attempts to reassure her. "Stavros called me because he was concerned about Nikolas. But that is exactly what he told me... Alexis is fine."

"Define fine. She isn't calling me. I have no idea where she is. That is not fine. I want to talk to Stavros." Kristina demands.

"NO!!!" Ned and Stefan claim at the same time.

"Alexis wouldn't want you to do that." Ned says next.

"Mr Ashton is correct. It is better that you have no contact with Stavros. It would be best if Stavros is allowed to forget you exist for as long as possible."

Bobbie winces. "Stefan..."

"Yes, Barbara, I realize that is unlikely. But isn't there some americanism about borrowing trouble?" Stefan answers impatiently then turns back to Kristina. "I am looking for Alexis. I have a long list of places she isn't I would prefer to not have the additional task of seeking all the places you aren't as well!"

"What about Jax? Why haven't I heard from him?"

"Mr Jacks is not my concern. I told him he was on a fool's errand and to allow me to find our sister he chose to ignore my counsel. I have no doubt that he is also in sound health if frustrated by my brother's machinations." Bobbie leans over and whispers something in Stefan's ear. Stefan nods and Bobbie leaves the room.

"What is she doing here? Who is she?" Kristina demands.

Lucas comes down the stairs at that exact time. "That's my mother. Barbara Spencer. And she owns this house, she can be here anytime she wants!"

"Lucas." Stefan rubs his forehead. "Please. Allow me to handle this. You were going to see Thunder." Lucas stalks out of the room after glaring at Kristina.

"It's Bobbie's house?" Ned questions softly.

"My brother gave it to her." Stefan holds up his hand. "Please refrain from whatever Quartermaine quip you are about to make. The ownership of this house is irrelevent." As the name Quartermaine passes his lips Stefan stiffens. "Kristina, it would be better if we spoke of this privately."

"Ned knows all about us." Kristina dismisses Stefan's concerns with the wave of a hand.

Ned knows just where this one is heading. "Including Carly being with Stavros. Carly and Michael."

Stefan closes his eyes briefly and sighs. "Yes. Barbara has been in contact with Caroline since we returned from our trip. She indicated she will try to find out whatever information is available about Alexis and your Mr Jacks. It is unlikely however that if Caroline does know where Alexis is... that she will reveal her whereabouts. And it is also unlikely that she has any knowledge of our sister's condition. Stavros would keep his family issues separate from Caroline."

"Family issues!" Kristina protests.

Bobbie comes back in the room. "You wouldn't get it since you weren't raised Cassadine. It's the whole wife/mistress thing. Wives get all the issues and mistresses get all the fun. Stavros and Carly have fun. And neither of them consider Alexis fun... therefore Stavros would keep Carly away from her. But according to Carly, Jax was fun." Bobbie adds wryly. She catches Mrs Lansbury's eye. "Mrs Lansbury, I don't have to work today and I was just on the phone to my daughter...."

"A mimosa perhaps?" Mrs Lansbury suggests.

"That would be great." Bobbie looks around to the others. "Anyone else?"

"Barbara...." Stefan's tone is censorius.

"For once you don't know what I know." Bobbie says too calmly. "Mrs Lansbury bring four... and go light on the orange juice."

"Of course Mrs Cassadine."

"Mrs Cassadine!" Kristina stares at her brother with her mouth agape. "You got married?!"

"They were married." Ned explains and then looks to Bobbie and stefan. "Right? Past tense."

"Yes, past tense." Bobbie agrees. Mrs Lansbury comes back with the mimosas. Bobbie takes the first one off the tray. She drains half of the champagne flute. "Another thing that your brother hasn't told you about I assume?"

"Barbara, Stavros...."

Bobbie turns to Kristina and Ned. "Doesn't believe in divorce. Makes a very big thing about no divorce. He refuses to recognize that Stefan and I are divorced. Very happily divorced as a matter of fact. Happier divorced than we were married." Bobbie clucks. "There I go again using the past tense. Ned, are you getting the implication on this one?"

"Oh no. No. You aren't telling me. You have got to be kidding me."

Kristina mutters. "He addressed the note to Alexis to Mrs Jacks... Natasha Jacks."

"Anyone ready for that drink yet?" Bobbie refers to the tray of mimosas. "You might want to keep these coming."

"Barbara, what did Caroline say?"

"Only that she lured Jax onto the Cassadine yacht where Alexis and Stavros were waiting. Jax evidently also forgot the part about the Cassadines not divorcing so he didn't know his lines in the little scene that Stavros had set up. It wasn't going the way that Stavros liked so he bashed Jax over the back of the head. Last Carly saw Jax, he was in a boat being hauled back to shore."

"What about Alexis?" Ned asks.

"Stavros put her on the Cassadine jet. Carly doesn't know where... exactly. Evidently Stavros thinks Jax will be more reasonable the next time they meet. And then Alexis will be his responsibility. Until then Stavros is making sure she is taken care of-- as is due her station as the daughter of Mikkos Cassadine."

Stefan winces. He reaches for a flute off of the tray and drains it. "Kristina, you need to keep a very low profile."

"What did Carly mean by that? taken care of... station..." Kristina looks to her bother who is starting to look frazzled.

Stefan looks over at Ned. He would really rather not be going into this in front of an outsider. "Women of our... class do not work." Stefan sees Bobbie is about to protest. "Charity work excepted. They do not seek paid employment. They are... sheltered until they wed."

"Oh I bet it gets better." Bobbie says cheerfully. She sits down on the arm of the couch. "Let me see if I remember this..." Bobbie thinks back. "Marriage isn't about love. It's about alliances and family. Things that endure because love is a fleeting. I know I'm not getting it quite right but pretty close right?" Bobbie can tell by the look on Stefan's face that there is going to be hell to pay later anyway. "So tell me, lets pretend. If Alexis had been raised a Cassadine... who would she be married to now?"

Stefan is stonefaced. "There was an... understanding with one of my father's friends... a prince in Luxemburg but my mother was unable to have any more children."

"Oh please!" Ned protests. "He ate paste!" Ned turns to Kristina. "I went to boarding school with the guy. Alexis would kill the guy or die of boredom in a week."

"But no divorce." Bobbie says cheerfully.

"Helena!" Ned says triumphantly. "She never was one to sit back and knit or think of England or whatever."

"My mother did not work during the course of her marriage. She only saught unchecked power in the vacumn that his death created. She obeyed my father in all things.... save one." Stefan looks over at Kristina.

"My mother." Kristina says softly.

"Your mother." Stefan agrees.