Risk

Chapter XXXIII

Letters

Stavros wakes to hear sounds coming from the living area of the suite. Rising from his bed, he reaches for a robe and loosely belts it. Silently he opens the door from his bedroom to the common area. "Caroline?"

"Yeah, it's me. Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you." Carly says quietly.

Stavros walks over to her and tilts her head up. "You've been crying."

"I must look a mess." Carly steps back from Stavros and shakes her hair forward to hide her eyes. "I hate crying. My eyes get all swollen and my nose gets red and drippy. Don't even look at me."

"What did he do to you?!" Stavros says grimly.

"We both knew it wasn't going to go well and it didn't. Look. I'm done here. Where do you want to go? Greece, Switzerland? I need to work on Deception some. See if I can salvage whatever the hell Laura is doing to my company. Greece right? So you can take over Jax's stuff there."

"Caroline. Stop." Stavros steps toward her and brushes back her hair, tucking it behind her ear. "He is a fool."

"Yeah, thanks. He can be a fool who is stuck on that island until someone comes to pick him up or he gets off on his own. I told him I wouldn't help him go back to Port Charles because I don't want him dead. I still don't want him dead. No matter what he said to me. I just really need..." Carly hiccups into a sob. "... I just really need to do something I have some control over."

Stavros pulls Carly into a comforting hug rubbing her back as she sobs against him. "You need sleep. You haven't slept in days and I know part of that is my fault. Come." Stavros starts to the room that Carly shares with Michael as is her norm when they are trips but then instead walks her to his room. "Come. Lay down."

"Stavros..." Carly protests.

"No, you need to sleep. And I don't want Michael to disturb you. I will make our travel arrangements. But we won't be flying out until tonight. Michael wants to explore the reefs in a glass bottom boat. I think he believes he will see a wrecked pirate ship." Stavros says wryly. He pulls off Carly's shoes and then tucks the covers around her.

"I'm sorry, Stavros. I know you didn't sign on for this. Just what you needed-- a basket case."

"You are... talking garbage." Stavros walks over to the door. "Sleep Caroline. When you wake you will have a plan."

"I always do." Carly murmurs tiredly turning on her side and hugging a pillow.

"Yes. You always do." Stavros says softly. He closes the door.

"She okay? Carly wasn't saying much on the way back here. Which is odd in itself." The tutor says quietly not wanting to wake anyone.

"I want a perimeter set around that island. Nobody comes or goes without being checked by our men. He made her cry. He will pay and pay dearly." Stavros says harshly.

The tutor nods. "I'll make the calls." The tutor makes a half bow and then leaves. Stavros goes over to the bar and pours himself a small brandy. Then he looks at it and sets it aside.

It already mid morning on the other side of the world. Alexis comes out of her suite bearing a microcassette. "Andreas?"

"Yes Madam?" Andreas comes out of the library. "I was just about to come to your rooms. You have received another email."

"From Stavros?" Alexis frowns but reaches for the folder.

"No, from a Zander in Port Charles? The return address is Morgan/Corinthos coffee."

"He works there. How did he get the address here?" Alexis wonders curiously.

"I believe he references it in his letter to you." Andreas answers.

"Take care of these for me?" Alexis hands Andreas the microcassette. "And print me off copies of whatever you send."

"Of Course, Madam." Andreas is already talking to her back though as Alexis goes back in her rooms. Andreas goes back into the library and starts transcribing Alexis' dictation. You can tell she made her money as an attorney at one time. Her letters are more businesslike than personal. He would have to speak to her about that.

Meanwhile in Alexis' room,

<<< Dear Alexis,
Well I wish I could say everyone is freaking, but I haven't talked to everyone. Jason isn't. If I could walk, I would. The guys at work are right. He pays on time and he seems to notice everything. I got more chance of figuring out whats up staying there. Why Emily thought he walked on water I'll never know.
Sonny is missing too. But with Jason picking up the slack I haven't heard any rumbling, more sighs of relief. Ungrateful bastards. I know Sonny hadn't been around much since he and Carly split up but damn--it's cold the way everyone just... goes on.
What's the deal with you and Jason? I know he hates my guts but when did you hit his shit list? When I asked him about you he said you were paid to like me. Triple rates to get over your scruples. It never felt like that, Alexis. I know you only wanted what was best for me. Jason did say you were with Stavros.
I tried to talk to K but she wasn't at your place, figure she's stashed same place as before. Ran into Gia on the way out. She called Stavros. She's got his number memorized. Can you believe that shit? He gave her this email address for you. I don't know if it'll bounce or not. If you'll get this or not... I'll give it 24 hrs then I'm going to the Quartermaines.

Your friend always,
Zander>>>

"Oh no. Zander, you have got to stay out of this." Alexis reaches over for the microcassette recorder and drops in a new tape.

L&B Records. Ned and Kristina open the office. Ned heads back to start the coffee while Kristina checks messages on voice mail and on the computer. "You wouldn't believe what that little rugrat did, Ned! I can't believe I fell for it but he just looked so angelic...."

Ned comes out carrying two coffees. "I knew I shouldn't have left you over at Wyndeweird alone. Kristina? Are you okay?"

"Ned-- it's an email from Alexis!" Kristina looks up from the computer screen. Ned sets down the coffee and comes up behind Kristina to see the incoming emails.

Reaching over Kristina's shoulder, Ned opens the email with the press of a button. "Call Nikolas; there is an attachment here for him too." Kristina is already reaching for the phone.

<<<
Enclosed is a note for Nikolas as well. Please ensure he receives it.

I am well but concerned about Jax. His meeting with Stavros did not go well. If Jax should contact you please direct him to return to Port Charles. I am fine. I do not wish to involve anyone in family matters. While it is an overestimation to say that Stavros and I have cleared the air we both know where the other stands.
Stavros shares yours and Jax' disdain of my chosen profession. I am working on a small project for him that takes up my time. It is not the first time I've put my career on hold to attend to estate business. I have also emailed my principle clients and notified them of my leave of absence.
Please keep safe anything I left back in Port Charles until my return.

Sincerely

Alexis Davis.>>>

"It's so cold." Kristina worries.

"That's the way Alexis writes her letters." Ned says quietly. "I think she wrote it, Kristina."

"Why?"

"She doesn't mention you by name. And she says she wants Jax to come back to Port Charles. That sounds just like Alexis. She's trying to handle this herself. She doesn't want anyone to get hurt."

"Oh Ned."

"At least we can contact her. I'd rather you added your letter to mine. And keep away from mentioning the word sister. I think Alexis is trying to not remind Stavros about you."

"Everyone is trying to protect me! Who is protecting my sister?!"

Nikolas comes into the office at a run. Kristina's call had gotten to him when he was already on his way in. "Alexis contacted you?!"

"She left an attachment for you too." Ned steps away from the computer.

Nikolas comes around and sits down in front of the computer. He clicks on the attachment and skips over all of the various virus warnings.

<<< Nikolas.

I am well, but sorry I didn't get to see you before leaving Port Charles. Your father has set me a herculean task that keeps me occupied and away from the legal work he holds in as low regard as the rest of my family.
It is unlikely I will be returning to Port Charles in the near future. I'm sure your father will make an accommodation for your nuptials. Please keep me informed of when you and Gia set a date. Tell the rest of the family I am fine. I am emailing Stefan the same but knowing him as I do he will probably need your reassurance as well.

Your Aunt.

Alexis >>>

"That's it?!" Nik looks up at Kristina and Ned.

"That's it." Ned nods. "But it's more than we had before. I don't know how the hell she managed it."

"Maybe when Bobbie was talking to Carly." Kristina suggests. "She did call Carly while we were there yesterday."

"She doesn't know Gia and I broke up. Carly and my father both know. Do you think there is a clue in here somewhere? Maybe hercules... maybe the labor that my father has assigned her?"

"It's worth looking into I guess." Ned nods.

"Now if Jax would just check in. So we could all be working on this together." Kristina starts pacing. "You know that Alexis must be afraid for him that she even mentioned him."

"Alexis knows Jax's email address. Maybe he's getting the same info we are."

"If he even has his computer with him!"

"You know I'd kind got used to your boundless optimism, don't lose it now." Ned says wryly. "This is a good thing. Lets look at it as a good thing. Alexis is getting mail out. It's more than we had yesterday."

"Andreas, I need you to get this out ASAP."

"There is an emergency, madam?!" Andreas rises to his feet from behind the desk in the library.

"Not for us, but for Zander if he doesn't get this email." Alexis hands Andreas a microcassette. "He is trying to find me and he's going to get himself in a world of hurt if he runs into Stavros... or Stefan. This will reassure him and hopefully slow him down some. How are you doing on the others?"

"Your emails to Mr Ashton and Nikolas, Stefan, Sonny Corinthos and your husband have all been sent." Andreas hands Alexis the folder with the hard copies of her correspondance within.

"Ex- husband. Well the email to Sonny was a waste of time. He's vanished off the face of the earth." Alexis notes how Andreas is avoiding her gaze. "What do you know?"

"What you know as well, Madam. The selection of Puerto Rico by the Prince to meet your ex-husband is both telling and... convenient. Mrs Corinthos presence..."

"To lure Jax to the yacht." Alexis nods. "But Stavros said Carly had business there too. I take it that Jax isn't the only one lured to Puerto Rico."

"Very efficient." Andreas says wryly. "But all educated guesses, The Prince doesn't inform me of plans that are outside of my station."

"But you've got eyes." Alexis agrees and sighs. "Only Stavros and Carly would think they could handle all the ex husbands in one fell swoop. What if Jax and Sonny had teamed up? Nevermind that is about as likely as hell freezing over."

Andreas puts on the earphones in preparation to transcribing the new email. alexis turns to leave the room. "Madam?"

"Yes?"

"If you intended to reassure this young man.... I'm assuming he is someone that is close to you?"

"What's wrong?"

"This sounds like a business letter to one of your collegues." Andreas hands Alexis the earphones. She puts them on and Andreas hits play again.

Alexis winces and then takes off the earphones. "It's got to go out ASAP. I can't be worrying about the tone." She paces. "But you're right, the last time Zander thought I was in trouble he jumped from my top floor penthouse balcony to Sonny's where I was being held at gunpoint and ended up taking a bullet meant for me."

"Truly a loyal friend." Andreas flexes his fingers. "Just tell me what you want to say. Speak as if you are talking to the young man."

Nikolas waits until Kristina and Ned are occupied with something else before replying to Alexis' email.

<<< Alexis,

I need legal counsel. Now. Frankly I don't care if my father sees this. I almost hopes he does. Gia and I broke up. Her choice not mine. I still hope to regain her trust and reconcile but Bobbie tells me it will be a long and difficult road. It appears I have herculean labors before me as well.
The legal issue-- Jason Morgan tells me that mother will soon be contacting me to borrow money to cover back payments of interest that she hasn't made on the Deception loan she took out from Sonny Corinthos. He was very specific that if I gave the money to mother that I would have no say. This is unacceptable. The decisions that mother has been making have put Gia in danger and if that wasn't so I still can't believe she was so foolish as to have a)accepted monies from such a tainted source and then b) not paid it back in a timely fashion.
Mother is $50,000 behind on a $2 million dollar debt, although I am sure you are already aware of the figures. I have the $2 million or I can get my hands on it with a phone call. It's part of the "insurance" money that Stefan left me when he was presumed dead so that I couldn't be pushed around by Helena.
I don't want Jason Morgan anywhere around Gia. Ever. Unfortunately, I believe Morgan is correct if I give the money to Mother nothing will change and in fact I would be financing Mother's harassment of Gia. This is unacceptable. I need strings; I need conditions. I need an attorney.
I hope you are indeed fine. And will make all efforts to reassure the family here that it is so. And yes, I hope you will be here for my nuptials but with the current disarray of my relationship-- I think you will be back long before I can convince Gia to take me back.

Your Loving Nephew,
Nikolas>>>

Carly walks out onto the terrace. Her hair is still wet from the shower and she'd dressed in her bikini and pareau. The tears over the last twenty four hours have made her eyes swollen and sensitive to the tropical sunshine of the Puerto Rican afternoon. Carly slides on her sunglasses. Stavros had left her a note. The boys were off on a quest to find sunken treasure. AKA a glass bottom boat to the reef so Michael could see the local fishies. Not wanting to spend more time on her own thoughts, Carly reaches for the laptop computer and checks the progress on all the projects she and Stavros have going. There is an email from Alexis that Carly automatically skips over until she sees the subject line. About Nikolas. Carly clicks it open wondering if she is going to have to call the guys back from their excursion. Alexis is seeking permission to assist Nikolas on a legal matter. Carly scans the email quickly and then opens up a reply.

<<< Alexis,

Stavros is out with Michael and won't be back for a few more hours. I'll make sure he sees the email from you when he gets back since it's about Nikolas. My conversations with Stavros in the past pretty well indicate he will back whatever play Nik makes.
Oh and you're welcome for getting email access. Make sure you thank Bobbie when you email Stefan. She's the one who suggested it. Course it isn't cause she gives a rats rear about you, but she doesn't want Stefan to worry.
If Nik wants to waste his money then let him go for it. Stavros doesn't care about Deception or Laura's business decisions. Just make sure that whatever contract you write for Nik fucks Laura over the way you did me.

Carly>>>

Zander drops his takeout lunch from Kelly's at his desk. He'd gotten stuck with a problem at the normal lunch hour and had to take a late one. The desk is located down on the floor of the warehouse. It is more of a work station than an office but it gets the job done. It's probably too soon but he does what he's been doing all day long. Checks the email to see if there is anything from Alexis. If she hasn't contacted him by the end of business then he was going to the Quartermaines. "Yes!"

<<<
I don't know how to explain this-- My family is complicated. One of the things we never did was discuss family. It was an offlimits topic for both of us. I always got the feeling that your family situation is messy which was why you were always so adament about keeping them out of your troubles.
I'm fine. I'm working on a project for Stavros. It will keep me occupied for quite some time. The Cassadine Estate has always been one of my major concerns/clients. Stavros is now in charge of the estate. I'm sorry I didn't contact anyone before I left but this came up suddenly.
It is not a secret much anymore but Carly is with Stavros. Probably not with with. Their relationship is... hard to define. And Carly being with Stavros is the way I made Jason's least favored list. He believes I protected Sonny at Carly and Michael's expense. I did. I should stick to lawyering and leave relationships to others.
I thought I was protecting Sonny from going to jail and ended up ruining his life. We both saw what losing Carly did to Sonny. I'm sure that is why Jason is back in town. He always gets called to clean up Carly's messes and this time Sonny's too. Jason will protect Sonny's business interests even when Sonny doesn't... so please don't interfere with Jason. And for heaven's sake stick to the coffee business because I'm not going to be available to defend you if you get involved in the other and I don't think they let you get emails in jail.
It's more important to me that you focus on getting your life in hand. Have you thought any more about going to PCU? Are you eating properly? I know I have no right to ask that question considering the amount of popcorn I fed you when you were staying with me. But at least I made sure you had a good breakfast. Have you talked to Emily lately? I really do think that boyfriend at rehab is a subterfuge. But there I go giving relationship advice again. Ignore me.
I have emailed K but prefer she not get involved in family politics. I have enough on my plate with this project without worrying about her as well. I hope you will add your weight to my wishes and make my point for me since I can't make it in person.

your friend,

Alexis.

PS. Stay away from the Quartermaines. They are nothing but trouble for you. If you want to talk to Ned go to L&B. It's his refuge from the insanity.>>>

Zander prints off the letter and then deletes it from the computer. He flags down one of the guys on the floor. "I've got some comp time coming. I'm outta here. See ya in the morning."

"Right. I'll let the boss know if he asks." The guy barely pauses in his task. Zander tosses his uneaten lunch into the bin by the desk and heads off to L&B.

Michael comes running out onto the terrace talking the whole time. He sits on Carly's stomach ignoring the whoosh of air that he pushes from her with his weight. "Mama! You should have come with me and Stavros! There were lots of fish and coral reefs and we saw a sting ray and a barracuda. And the glass bottom boat was so cool! You had to go really slow so you could see everything. And we saw ship wrecks but they were all little boats not a pirate ship."

Carly sits up from where she'd been sunning herself and adjusts the chaise to support her back. "Whoa Mr Man, it sounds like you had fun." She gives him a hug and a kiss. "Did you remember your sunblock?" Carly presses her thumb against Michael's arm to be sure.

"Yeah, Stavros and tutor took turns." Michael dismisses. "They were always slathering stuff on me. And Stavros made me wear a stupid hat."

"It is a very nice hat." Carly examines the greek fisherman's cap. "If you don't want it I'll take it." She snatches it off of Michael's head and places it on her head.

"You're silly. It doesn't fit you!" Michael snatches it back and puts it on his own.

"You're right it looks better on you." Carly agrees as she adjusts the cap. She looks over to the screen door where Stavros is standing observing them. "You got an email from Alexis about Nikolas."

"Is everything..." Stavros steps out onto the terrace.

"I e'd her back and told her to go for it. Nik wants Alexis to write a contract for him. I thought that would be okay with you rather than have Nik trying to find another attorney-- outside the family. Read it yourself." Carly nods in the direction of the laptop.

Stavros opens up the laptop and clicks on Alexis' email reading thru it quickly and then opens up the sent mail and reads Carly's reply. Carly holds her breath while waiting for his response. Stavros considers the situation and then closes the laptop. "It looks as if you will be working with Nikolas at Deception afterall."

Carly exhales and then shrugs casually. "He did good work there before. And having him there makes sure that Laura doesn't mess with Gia anymore. I don't want her to quit but I don't want her hurt either while she's trying to stick it out until I get my company back. I'd love to know where he got the two million. Alexis doesn't know you cut his money from the estate. I figure it he's throwing 2 mil at Deception that brings him closer to broke and closer to having to deal with you." She hugs Michael and rests her head on top of his.

"I don't want the only reason my son comes to me be money." Stavros says quietly.

"If it opens up a conversation then it's a start." Carly shrugs as she answers. "And if he is working at Deception with me then you know we'll be discussing stuff other than money and it won't be ancient history. Did you decide where we're going next? Back to Greece?"

Stavros shakes his head. "Not yet. Mr Jacks will probably head there next and I have no desire to see him yet. Switzerland I think."

"Fun." Carly turns to Michael. "Do you know what's in Switzerland?"

"Heidi?"

"Well her too, sorta. Chocolate. Lots and lots of Chocolate! But it's cold there right now. So you'll have to bundle up. And we'll have snowball fights and maybe if we ask nice Stavros will even teach us how to ski in the snow." Both Michael and Carly look toward Stavros.

"Why do you think I know how?" Stavros inquires.

"Oh Michael, I guess that means it's three for the bunny slopes!" Carly makes a face at her son. "Something all three of us can learn at the same time! You better go get packed and tell your tutor to get packed too."

Michael goes racing into the hotel room. Stavros tells Carly wryly. "I do know how to ski."

"Yeah, I figured." Carly rises from the chaise and comes over to Stavros. "But I don't. I'm a Florida girl remember? Surfing, sailing or water skiing I'm your gal. And there aren't any slopes in Port Charles. Just make sure I don't break my leg."

Stavros takes off Carly's sunglasses revealing the still swollen eyes. "Are you alright?"

Carly shakes her head. "It's going to take me awhile. But I don't want to upset Michael. It's better if we keep busy."

"Then busy you shall be. Come." Stavros holds out a hand to Carly. Carly places her hand in his and he leads her into the hotel suite.