Risk

Chapter XXXIX

Second Date?

As the sun rises, changing the dark sky from black to shades of lightening purple, rays of pink streaking upwards, The tutor stands at the window that faces the street. After coming back from skiing the gate to the chalet had been closed. The tutor notes any vehicles that weren't there before carefully. Cars might not be allowed in the downtown area of Gstaad but that still left everything around the town including the chalet. Stavros comes up behind him. "Well?"

The tutor shrugs. "Probably. But all they'll get is a shot of the front of the house. This is part of Phase II. The press are going to be a reality of actively managing the estate." The tutor looks back over his shoulder at Stavros. "Especially how actively you are planning on managing it. Carly's got the right idea. Know they are there but don't let it stop you from what you want to do."

"They are an abomination." Stavros rumbles.

The tutor nods. "But nothing new. The press has been around forever."
There is a knock on the front door. Stavros stiffens. The tutor nods in his direction. "I got it." The tutor goes over to the front door and looks out but doesn't see anyone. With a frown he opens the door and doesn't see anyone there. Then he looks down.

"Can Michael come out and play?" The too young to be flying solo girl asks in french.

"Isn't it a little early, little one?" The tutor answers back.

"But I'm awake now."

"Do your parents know you are here?"

The little girl doesn't answer and doesn't meet the tutor's gaze. He shakes his head. "Come in. I need your parents phone number so I can let them know you are here." Stepping aside, he ushers the little girl in. As she crosses the threshold she calls off her address and phone number.

Michael comes racing down the stairs... while dressed his hair is askew and he is in his stocking feet. He comes sliding to a halt. "Hi."

"Hi."

There is an awkward silence as the language barrier gets in the way. Stavros fills the gap having overheard the whole conversation between the little girl and the tutor, and remembering his dance with the girl the day before. "Sophie came over to play." He says wryly.

"Cool!" Michael grabs Sophie's hand and starts tugging her toward the study where the computer and his games are.

"Michael, perhaps you should be offering your guest something to drink? Or Breakfast?"

"Right. Right. Sorry." Michael instead of asking anything starts tugging Sophie toward the kitchen.

As soon as the children are gone, Stavros looks over at the tutor. "Is this normal as well? Something that has changed while I was... asleep perhaps? Young ladies dropping in at 6am?"

The tutor grins. "I'll call her parents. Tell them that they need to start hiding Sophie's boots as well."

Carly reaches over and slams at her own personal nemesis. This was something that she hadn't missed for the last few months. Being with Stavros meant that everything was on her own personal timetable. It didn't matter if she worked until 4am. It didn't matter if she didn't get up until 10am or even eleven. Numbers on a clock hadn't mattered. "Alarm clocks are a creation of satan." Carly mutters as she pushes her hair out of her eyes. She crawls out of bed, dragging toward the bathroom. Maybe after a shower she'd feel human enough to sneak Michael up the mountain for his ski lesson. After a long hot shower, Carly gets dresses warmly ready to challenge the slopes again. She reaches up to grab Michael's boots. Her hand brushes left... and then right. Standing up on tippytoes she reaches further back fingers straining-- they had to be there. "Oh HELL!" I'm not going to panic. I'm not going to panic. "MICHAEL!!!"

Stavros comes out of the second floor sitting room where he'd been catching up on reports. He'd been half expecting this one. "Caroline."

"Where is Michael? Is he with you?"

"Come see." Stavros holds a hand out to Carly. Carly takes Stavros hand and walks with him to the sitting room that looks out over the backyard. In the middle of the yard, Michael is building a snow fort with the help of a bundled up little girl. There is a lot of gestures exchanged between the two... pantamine directions. Just incase the directions get to complex, the tutor is there to do the translations. "She's been here since six."

"Six?!" Carly's eyes go wide.

"Six. Her parents were notified of her whereabouts. They will pick Michael and Sophie up to take them skiing and then after for a... sleepover?"

"Wow." Carly presses her nose to the glass. Then she turns around. "Wow. My son-- the lady's man. Where is the camera? This has got to go into Michael's book."

"What do we know about this girl?"

"Oh don't you start. She's the same age as Michael and they are having fun. Dont be a spoilsport." Carly impulsively rises on her toes and gives Stavros a quick kiss. "I gotta find my camera." She runs out of the room.

Stavros stares after her and then shakes his head chuckling under his breath. This is not like anything he anticipated when inviting Caroline and her son to stay with him in Greece. But then little has been.

"Are they still here?" Jax crosses the threshold of a chalet in Gstaad.

"Good Morning to you too, My Friend." Thaao ushers Jax into the entryway. Jax gives him a good glare. "Yes, according to my sources they are still here. But this is a mistake. You should be off to Bali or finding oil in South America. Anywhere but here."

"Already been to South America, thanks." Jax drops his duffel. "What do you know?"

Thaao names off the lodge. "Cassadine's companion caused quite a stir. She evidently commandered the club for a... children's party yesterday."

"A children's party?!" Jax stops in his tracks.

"She made a scene they were still speaking of hours later. Something about paparrazi bothering the children. So she threw a gathering that the press were not invited to." Thaao laughs.

"Where are they staying?"

"I have the address but it is unlikely you would make it past the gate. Not after the rude behavior of the press."

"Can you get your father to invite them to the house party?"

"I've already suggested it." Thaao replies wryly. "He was quite pleased with my suggestion. He believes I am finally taking an interest in his tiresome business. The invitation has already been sent for a party here this evening. And now if we don't get out of here, my father will discover your presence and begin the endless wheeling and dealing."

"What did you have in mind?"

"Six inches of new powder on a 100 inch base. A helicoptor can have us at the top of the mountain within the hour."

Jax grins. "What're the stakes? For when I beat you?"

"When I beat you, I think you mean. The Isabella." Thaao claims what he wants. Jax's yacht, the scene of the last game of all their friends. Brenda had been there. Jax had won his island. So many things have changed since then. Jax had won and lost a couple of fortunes. Brenda is gone. And his friend is no longer the happy playboy that he'd been even if he was still using the facade.

"Your minisub." Jax counters. "I could have used it this last week. It'll make a nice addition to my holdings."

"Since I have no intention of losing..." Thaao holds out his hand which Jax takes and shakes. "It's a bet. With you here, maybe we should contact Ali and the contessa. Get a game together."

"Maybe later. Let me deal with Stavros Cassadine first."

"Okay, and you be good for Sophie's parents." Carly fusses with Michael's ski jacket making sure it's zipped up all the way. "Mind your manners to make Stavros proud. No swearing and no spitting out anything they give you for dinner no matter how disgusting you think it is. And you know the cell phone number if you want us to come get you. Your dry clothes and PJs are in your overnight bag. And a present for Sophie's parents as a thank you for inviting you."

"Don't fuss, Mama!" Michael protests as Carly starts straightening his hair. He pulls his knit cap out of his pocket and pulls it down on his head, making a hash of all of Carly's efforts.

"Don't forget your sunblock... and your sunglasses!" Carly calls after Michael as he goes racing to the french couple's car. The back door is already open. Michael waves as he jumps in the car and fastens his seat belt. Carly waves after him. Carly waits until the car pulls away before stepping back into the chalet and shutting the door. "Okay this is weird." Carly holds a hand to her stomach. "I know Michael and I have been separated before... when I was worried about AJ coming after us. But Leticia was always with him."

Stavros nods in the direction of the tutor. The tutor gets his jacket on. "I think I have a bunny slope to get to."

"Thanks." Carly says gratefully. After the tutor leaves, Carly looks at Stavros a little lost. "What am I suppose to do now?"

"Come." Stavros holds a hand out to her. "A late working lunch I think. We have projects to review. And invitations to go thru."

"Invitations?"

"A consequence of our going public. The social obligations begin. Our calendar will soon be filled. But I think we'll still manage some time on the slopes."

"Best two out of three." Thaao calls out as he slides his goggles down his face. The trip down the mountain had been exhilerating and in places, if he was honest, terrifying. Terrifying enough to slow him down while Jax had plunged fearlessly on.

Jax laughs. "That wasn't the deal."

Thaao sighs. "I will have the sub brought to the yacht. Someday, My Friend, you will lose."

"Not at skiing." Jax shakes his head. "You're going to have to come up with a different game, Thaao."

"The least you can do is buy me a drink to comiserate me for the loss of my beautiful sub."

"Done." Jax agrees. Planting his poles in the snow he bends down to unfasten the bindings of his skis. Thaao does the same. Together they walk into the lodge and take up seats next to the fire shedding parkas and gloves and scarves. Jax puts in an order for a couple of Spanish coffees to a passing staff member and then holds his hands out to the fire to warm them.

Thaao notices what Jax doesn't. The number of women looking in his handsome friend's direction. It has always been so. Jax is a magnet of feminine attention. One of the many benefits of being seen with Jax. "So tell me, what is the... deal? Why is Stavros Cassadine so important to you?"

Jax thanks the staff member and hands over the necessary cash and tip. "He's not. His sister is."

"Ah! A woman, I should have known." Thaao nods. "A beautiful nubile young creature no doubt, hostage to her evil brother's influence."

"Alexis probably wouldn't answer to that desciption." Jax says wryly. He takes a sip of the coffee feeling the heat of the potentially lethal combination of brandy, kahlua and Tia Maria down his throat and warming him from the inside out. "Hostage to her evil brother's influence. yeah, that is about right. Alexis is...." Jax starts again. "You know when everything went down with Jerry and the feds? Alexis is the attorney who worked the deal to keep Dad and Jerry out of jail back in the states."

"An attorney." Thaao lifts a brow at that. "So it is gratitude... for services rendered in the past. And knowing Jerry-- that you will probably need in the future."

"She's also my ex wife."

"Ex- wife?!" Thaao shakes his head in bewilderment. "I don't recall an invitation! An announcement. I am hurt! Married and divorced with no word to your dearest friend. I would have sent a present... and demanded it's return."

"Getting married wasn't something we planned. It just kinda happened." Jax leans back on the overstuffed couch by the fire. He puts his feet up on the open hearth. "Alexis was in love with Ned Ashton and I was this close to falling for Chloe Morgan. Chloe had to get married to satisfy her uncle's will and keep her company. The four of us went to Las Vegas. I was going to marry Chloe. It didn't really matter to me what with Brenda being gone. Only at the last minute Chloe's Aunt Gertrude showed up and messed things up. Alexis and I ended up married."

"You went to Las Vegas to marry Chloe Morgan and married this Alexis instead. Only you, my friend. Only you." Thaao shakes his head.

Hours later, Sophie's mother calls the children to the table after a long day of skiing and playing in the snow. Michael mindful of his mother's orders goes to the foot of the table and holds Sophie's mother's chair for her. Her mother looks over at her husband, and quirks a brow and gives a little smile. Taking the clue from Michael, that this dinner is going to be a little more formal than they normally had when dining with just family, Sophie's papa holds the chair for his daughter... scooting her to the table. Sophie's mother assists Michael in moving her chair in. "Merci."

"No problem." Michael answers figuring that she'd just said thanks. That's what Mama always said when he helped her with her chair. He climbs into his own chair and carefully takes the napkin and lays it on his lap. No swearing. No spitting. No matter how disgusting.

Sophie's father takes his seat and then nods to the maid to begin to serve. More comfortable with English than either his wife or daughter he begins to converse with his daughter's young guest but he is surprised when Michael snaps his fingers. "Is there a problem?"

"No, I just forgot something. I'll be right back." Michael hops up from the table and goes racing back to the room where he'd changed clothes. Sorting thru his overnight back quickly he grabs a large flat envelope and brings it back to the table. He slides it to Sophie's mother. "Thank you for inviting me to dinner."

Sophie's mother looks at her husband questioningly. He nods at her to open it. Inside the envelope are pictures of Sophie and Michael building their snow palace and at play. "This is very... sweet." She says hesitantly searching for the unfamiliar words. It has been a long time since she took english in school. "Your maman took these, oui?"

"Digital camera." Michael nods. "Stavros has a printer with special paper so they look like real photographs. We take pictures where ever we go so I can send them to my grandma back in Port Charles. That's in New York..."

Carly settles back into the plush seat in the back of the limo. Under her mink lined full length coat, she is dressed in a black pants suit. The jacket and slacks are the highest quality silk. The tightly woven, sheer, highnecked top beneath covers but does not hide her braless form. She'd definitely be keeping her jacket on even if it fastened with only one button at about belly button level Her hair is upswept and fastened with diamond studded bobbie pins with a few tendrils curling at the base of her neck.
Her only other jewelry are her wedding ring and the diamond earrings that Sonny gave her. Stavros climbs in next to her. He reaches for the bottle of champagne and pours both of them a glass even though the trip to the house party would be a short one. He is dressed in a black suit with a snowy white dress shirt beneath it. Carly takes the flute and after her first sip asks, "Who is this guy again?"

"Dimitri Pappas. Shipping, Export. He did some business with my father before Mikkos threw himself into his research. I did a few deals with him as well before..." Stavros takes a sip of champagne not finishing the sentence.

"Okay, so this guy knew you back in the day, You're going to see him again after a couple decades looking like you did back then... and he's going to be old, wrinkled... probably fat." Carly gives Stavros a thumbs up. "Oh yeah, this is going to be an interesting evening." She considers Stavros jet black hair. "You know maybe you need a little reverse grecian formula... a little grey at the temples, maybe a streak in your beard. Right here." Carly runs a two fingers down the middle of Stavros beard from lower lip to his chin.
"If he is rude enough to ask..." Stavros takes Carly's hand and presses a kiss to the back of it. "... then I shall tell him that your company keeps me young."

"Is that the way we're playing it?" Carly says dryly.

"You have a brain like a steel trap; a talent for scheming greater than anyone I've ever known, but you and I both know that is not the first impression most receive. It is not the impression you seek. You enjoy having others underestimate you."

"Not as much as I used to." Carly nods. "Who else is going to be there?"

"I am unsure." Stavros shrugs. "Business associates, old money. Dimi has always been tiresomely preoccupied with business and profit. He doesn't seek power but connections." Stavros frowns. "He has a boy. But I never met him. Dimi sends him to a boarding school in England."

Always conscious of the possible time distortions Stavros went thru on a regular basis, Carly reminds. "A boy? Guy is probably in his thirties or something now. Dimi has probably retired and handed over the reins."

Stavros nods thoughtfully. "Yes. A distinct possibility. I had not considered that."

"Well while everyone thinks you are preoccupied with your little blonde, we can check out the lay of the land." Carly shrugs. "And if it's really boring..."

"We will leave early and I will take you dancing at the lodge."

"Oh you sweet talker." Carly grins. "Business and then fun. I'm going to hold you to that." The limo draws to a halt in front of a grand house that is styled like a chalet on steroids. Stavros takes the two champagne flutes and sets them aside. He exits the car and holds out a hand to Carly to assist her. Carly tucks her arm thru Stavros' and hugs it to her. "Show time." There is a flash of lights off to the side. Carly feels Stavros stiffen beneath her arm and then he relaxes. Carly looks up at his face. "Uh-oh."

"Their time is coming."

Carly shakes her head. "You are definitely going to have to take me dancing if you start getting all glowery. Just remember they got to eat too. As long as they aren't messing with Michael, let them have their fun. How long you think they've been out there in the cold to get a few shots in the dark?"

"Now who is being the spoilsport?" Stavros quips. They are greeted at the door by a maid who takes their coats and directs them toward the large open living room where the party is already in progress.

Carly groans. "Oh Gawd! it's the charity guild all over again."

"Charity Guild?"

"A bunch of well preserved matrons with scotch in their teacups deciding where to give their tax deductible donations while shredding reputations." Carly mutters under her breath. Then she puts on a polite smile. She'd snowed Amanda Barrington for as long as she'd been married to AJ. She can get thru tonight.

"Stavros! Stavros Cassadine!" An older gentleman comes over and shakes his hand and then brings him in close for a quick hug. "It is good to see you!" The man steps back. "You haven't aged a day... my old friend."

"Dimi!" Stavros guesses. "You look well! And prosperous."

"Ah." Dimitri waves a hand dismissively. "The years have been kind to me. You are fully recovered now... a coma? Or was it a fountain of youth perhaps?"

"It was a long way back." Stavros replies. "I have been fortunate as well to have Caroline to ease the path and fill me in on what I missed." Stavros introduces the two. "Caroline Corinthos, this is Dimitri Pappas. Dimitri, my very good friend, Caroline Corinthos."

"Hello."

"Charming." The old goat checks out Carly's assets. "I'm sure you were truly incentive for Stavros' recovery."

"Thanks I think." Carly says dryly picking up on more than one meaning there.

"Come. Let me re-introduce you to everyone." Dimi offers Stavros. "And then we must discuss your latest acquisitions in Greece. Very smoothly done. You have not lost your touch."

Carly can tell at a glance the division in the room as far as the women are concerned. There was one set on one side of the room. The women that had been around since the beginning. And then over on the other side were the trophy wives-- with no signs of mixing. "Dimitri, Stavros tells me you have a son..." Carly starts hoping for any sign of a younger set that would be showing up.

"Oh don't get me started! Thaao. I give that boy everything, and he plays; he dabbles. No sign of grandchildren to comfort me in my old age. He swore that he would be here tonight... but of course he will not show up until after the night skiing is completed and then only as long as it takes to make a round and then off he goes to gamble and drink. Stavros, your son, Nikolas. He has grown into a fine young man. An asset to you."

Carly twines her fingers thru Stavros and gives his hand a reassuring squeeze. Stavros traces circles on the back of Carly's hand. "Yes. But because of my... illness, we are strangers."

"Nikolas and his fiance came to visit Stavros in Greece for a weekend not long ago. I think it went really well." Carly interjects. "It'll just take a while to get to know each other again."

"Corinthos?" Dimitri muses. Carly stiffens wondering where this is going. But then Dimitri continues. "That's a greek name."

Carly relaxes a little. "My ex-husband is part greek-- a half, a quarter I don't recall. All american now."

"Yes, American. Where are you from?"

"Originally Florida but I've spent the last few years in Port Charles, New York. That's where I met Stavros."

"It is truly a small world! Thaao's friend that is visiting him has also been staying in Port Charles New York!"

"Oh?" Stavros inquires quietly.

"Jasper Jacks. Everyone calls him Jax. You remember his father, yes? John Jacks? We put together that southseas deal, remember?"

"Not particularly." Stavros shrugs. "But then you always had a better memory for details than I, Dimi. We are monopolizing our host, Caroline."

"Oh sorry! We are. Dimitri, don't worry about us. We'll manage. I promise I won't drag Stavros off before the two of you have a chance to catch up." Carly says sweetly. Dimitri takes the hint and goes to greet a couple of newcomers. "Jax?" Carly worries.

"It seems he is ready for our next meeting." Stavros grins.