Risk

Chapter LXVII

Family Dramas

At 5 pm Nik receives a phone call. "Are you sure you wish to speak to her considering you didn't call before forwarding your calls to her?'

Carly realizes who he is talking to and leaps off the couch and grabs the phone from Nik. "You are such dead meat, buddy!" It would serve you right if I sold Borneo for a dollar and a no compete clause. Of course I know what Borneo is! It was one of Michael's spelling words. And it's not a what-- it's a where. So there! I tried to call the house but the machine picked up." Carly starts nodding and finally says. "I'll meet you out front in fifteen minutes. Bye!" Carly hangs up the phone. "Oh wait-- did you want to talk to him?"

"No thanks, So where were they?"

"Playing hookie. Believe me nobody can play hookie like your father."

"Hookie." Nik's face is blank. "Is that another computer game?"

"Oh man. Hookie, ditch, cut-- none of this is sounding familiar?" Nik continues to look blank. "Remember in Greece when I said I got good at volleyball playing at the beach? I was playing hookie... skipping school to go to the beach: Hookie, cutting, skipping, ditching.

"And my father is good at this?"

Carly smirks. "I'm sure he calls it something different. But when Michael is supposed to be working on a computer research project and they're just calling me from getting back from the park..." She comes around the desk and reaching for the computer quickly burns a copy of the updated game for Nik and grabs her disc and then the disc with all of Stavros messages on it. She puts them both in a protective folder and grabs her portfolio stuffing everything inside. "Anything comes up just call or email me. Gotta go. Bye!" Carly walks out to reception. "Elton, I have a car coming but could you walk me down?"

"Carly, I'll..." Nik offers.

"No, thanks. Elton's got it covered." Together the two of them sneak off to the elevator.

"Definitely up to something." Nik mutters before going to know on his mother's door. "The coast is clear."

"Now you see what I had to put up with?" Laura lifts a brow.

"I have something I want to talk to you about... privately. Not here."

"Mom just called. She and Lulu are going out with the bluebell troop."

"I'll stop by."

In the elevator, Carly shoves her portfolio at Elton and starts digging thru her purse. She grabs all the cash out of her wallet and hands it to Elton. "Keep receipts for everything. I'll pay you back for travel and hotel. Do not put anything on the company credit card. You still have business cards from the party planning? Hand those out if anyone asks-- you're thinking of re-locating blah blah blah. I want everything-- fact, rumor, gossip from the loading docks to the top managment. I want to know who they contract with to clean their offices, do their windows, water their plants...."

"Mrs Corinthos, Am I ever coming back to Port Charles?" Elton asks aghast.

"Oh you betcha." Carly says cheerfully. "Two weeks from tomorrow. Call me with any info or if you need more money." The elevator door opens to the lobby. "I want to know who is you in the Enchantment Organization. And I want to know who the leading lady has ticked off for the last time again." Carly leans in and gives Elton a smooch on the cheek. "You'll be wonderful. I'm so jealous. Have fun!"
Carly steps off of the elevator and waves at the waiting limo. Michael, having seen his mother, is already climbing out and going round and round in the glass front door. Carly waits until the portion with her son in it comes around and jumps in with him. Together they push out of the building where Stavros is holding the back door. Carly climbs in followed by Michael and then Stavros climbs in and closes the door. The limo pulls away from the curb.

"Have fun she says." Elton squeeks. "Thank GAWD there aren't firing squads for industrial espionage. I need to get my trench coat out of the drycleaners."

Bobbie is already at Wyndermere when Stefan arrives. He gives his briefcase and coat to Mrs Lansbury. "I looked for you before I left the hospital."

"I finished up on time and went over to Kelly's to check on things there." Bobbie says too calmly.

Stefan had walked over to the drink cart and poured himself a glass of water. There is something about Barbara's tone. "Was there a problem at the diner?"

"No, Penny is a gem."

"Did Lucas have a problem at school today?" Stefan asks.

"Not that I know of. He didn't mention anything.... well other than baseball sign ups, and he needs to have his physical done."

"Barbara, are we playing a game of ... 20 questions or are you going to tell me what is... distressing you."

"I'm fine." Bobbie smiles but there is a strain in it. "I think I'll go check with Mrs Lansbury and see when dinner will be ready."

Stefan reaches out and blocks her passage with an arm. His hand goes from blocking to resting on her hip and he looks into her eyes. "Dinner will be ready as it is every night since Lucas came to stay here--at six thirty. Are you going to tell me what is going on or am I going to find out for myself?"

"You're slipping. I figured you'd know ten minutes after it happened."

"So something did happen. Something at the hospital."

"Monica kicked me off her surgical team, right before a procedure. I've already made the changes on the schedule to give her what she wants. Good thing you set it up for me to fill-in for Audrey or I'd have a lot of time on my hands."

"This was a continuation of the wedding." Stefan states. "Not unexpected."

"Oh no. This is a continuation of Stavros' little Risk game. He evidently rolled the dice on the Quartermaines yesterday. A little warning would have been nice. I'm kinda feeling like collaterial damage right now. Things have been strained between me and Monica for awhile, ever since the family filed for custody of Michael but I thought we were friends." Bobbie bites her lip. "She threw my past in my face; she threw you in my face."

Stefan says softly. "She mentioned me by name."

"No, just said Carly was taking a page from my book, not happy with the son's father so go running to The Cassadines."

Stefan nods. "Good."

"Excuse me?!"

"Then the doctor knows exactly what she has done."

"What do you mean?"

"She feels she cannot beat my brother. And is striking at what she perceives is Caroline's weakness. She will find she has erred."

Bobbie grabs ahold of Stefan's jacket to keep him from pulling away from her. "What are you talking about?"

"I'll deal with this."

"I've already dealt with it." Bobbie retorts. "If Monica doesn't want to be friends fine, I'll miss her. If she doesn't want to work with me... I'm good at what I do. I'll keep busy."

"And you are satisfied with that?"

"I'm fine." Bobbie repeats. "I am."

"Very well." Stefan brings up a hand and caresses the side of Bobbie's face. because I am not. If Monica Quartermaine wants a war... I will give her one. "Lucas wants to play baseball?"

Bobbie nods. "Every year from t-ball on. Tony normally handles the signups. I should mention them to Carly. It would be a good way for Michael to get to know kids his own age."

The No Name.

Carly takes the lead at the discreet club at the edge of town. "Mario!"

"Mrs Corinthos!" The maitre de exclaims. "It has been so long! How are you?"

"Doing great. This is my son Michael." Carly sees Mario blanch. "I hope it's not too early for dinner? I wanted to be out of here before it got busy."

"Of course, Mrs Corinthos. I have a quiet table right this way."

"Thanks." Carly follow Mario but it's Michael who holds her chair for her when they get to the table. "Michael, they have the best spagetti here. The best in all of Port Charles." Carly leans in to tell her son. "Uncle Jason and Uncle Sonny would always bring me here when we're celebrating."

"What are we celebrating?" Stavros asks from across the small table.

"First day back to work for me. What about you?"

"Green grass." Michael replies. They both look at Stavros.

"Good company." Stavros raises his just filled water glass for a toast.

"To Good Company." Carly raises her water glass to toast as well.

The ELQ building Skye's office. Her hair is a mess as if she'd run her hands thru it many times over the course of the day. AJ is also there with the sleeves of his dress shirt rolled up. Kris walks in. "Have you completed your task?"

Skye looks at him in a resigned fury. There was nothing better she'd like than to stick a knife in the guy and try to find a heart in that smug exterior. "It's an impossible task." She spits. "These are human beings-- not chess pieces. You're talking about a reorganization that will cost millions, spawn lawsuits and take months, years!"

"Have you completed the task?" Kris asks again. Skye flips the disc to him like a frisbee and Kris catches it in mid air. "The Prince will notify you of his decision." He walks back out.

"That's the man that was with Michael earlier?"

"Yep, hatchet man. He's got all the personality of an ice cube." Skye gripes.

"Perfect fit, considering who he's working for." AJ leans back in one of the leather executive chairs. "What would happen if what you theorized actually happened?"

"ELQ would make a profit every quarter right up until it ceased to exist." Skye says grimly. "Selling off assets always creates a short term profit. In the end, ELQ would be just a cog in the Cassadine machine."

"Some of the pieces remained mostly ELQ."

"Yeah, with enough Cassadine in it to make sabotage a guarentee."

"And enough ELQ to make sabotage a guarentee." AJ counters.

Skye shakes her head. "Our employees don't have the sense of loyalty. For them, there is always another greener pasture. None of them would take a bullet to keep their jobs, and I get the feeling that's the way the Cassadines think. It's a different mindset. Our employees will follow the green. Their minions are more worried about pushing up green rather than where their next paycheck is coming from. The only place we have a chance in hell is here at the docks, in Port Charles. The folks here have no love for the Cassadine. And even then the dock workers are more loyal to..."

"Jason or Sonny-- The Organization." AJ finishes the thought. Skye nods her agreement. "I never thought I'd be happy to say this but I'm glad I'm out of ELQ. Where do you fit in the reorganization?"

Skye sighs and closes her eyes. "I've always been on shifting sand here. Grandfather plays the CEO position like a yoyo."

"You don't have to tell me that." AJ says wryly.

"As long as Jax was backing me, there was an iota of security. As long as I was getting the job done, I didn't have to worry that the job was connected to Quartermaine family drama. I, we, played the task as if it were real. As if it could actually be accomplished." Skye muses. "But I don't get the angle. I get the feeling we were only given the pieces that Cassadine wanted us, me, to see. And I don't have a clear picture of Cassadine Enterprises. I'm just going on what he let us see. There has to be a chink in there somewhere-- there always is. All we're getting is the result of two meetings. Yesterday and then today. I throw in with Cassadine, I'm sure I'd have a job for life. But with the kind of attitude he's showing... piss him off and I'll end up managing an outhouse in Siberia. Not my idea of an enlighted boss. With Edward in charge, I at least had the right hyphenated last name."

AJ grins. "You could always marry Cassadine and have the right hyphenated last name again. I hear he's single."

"But not quite on the market." Skye rolls her eyes taking the comment from her brother as it was meant-- a tease and not serious. "Your ex got there first." Skye gets serious again. "What are you going to do?"

AJ sighs and grows serious as well. "Same as you. Play it straight and look for a chink in the armor. Cassadine, damn him, is offering me more than Carly ever has... I mean seriously ever has. Even when we were married, Carly was always working an angle with the end goal of wiping me out of the picture."

"What the hell did you do to get her so set against you?"

"You mean besides get in a fight with her at the top of the stairs over at the mansion?"

"Yes, it had to be before that. Because you just said even before you were married... and the fight happened after you guys were already in the midst of a divorce."

AJ thinks about it and rubs his forehead at the memory of his own stupidity. "Before Michael was born, when I realized he might be mine... I told Carly I would go for full custody. I was mad. I don't think I meant it. But it set up every thing that has happened since. Carly made a beeline for Jason. She's never forgotten. I thought for awhile we'd worked thru it when she agreed to marry me... but that was just a scam to take me totally out of the picture.
Add into that, Grandfather's two cents... Michael has always been tied up with ELQ at least in the old man's mind. I got suckered into that way of thinking too. Going for approval from the wrong people-- Grandfather, Dad-- people who are never going to love unconditionally. Rather than doing what would have been best for me and my son."

"Running like hell and making your own way?"

"Exactly. And it's spiralled out of control from there. Every time it looked like it might be getting better something else happened to reinforce Carly's walls around Michael."

"So Stavros' offer is looking pretty good."

"Carly will screw it up with Cassadine. She always does. When it happens I have to be a safe place for her to run." AJ theorizes. "So yeah, I have to take him up on it."

"Who do you really think is going to screw it up first?" Skye shakes her head. "No dis on you, AJ, but even if Stavros is playing it straight with you, he didn't just put you on notice. It was all of the Quartermaines. And I don't think that Monica is going to go along with the program or Edward either."

"Skye..." AJ hesitates because what he is going to ask for is big. "...I need you to stay on the inside. Grandfather has already had his shot and screwed things up with his own kids, grandchildren. I have to pick my priorities and Grandfather, or ELQ, can't be it anymore."

Skye nods. "For as long as I can. But I want somethin' back."

"What's that?"

"You have to go with me to give the bad news to Grandfather."

Nikolas pulls up to his mother's house and shuts off the engine of the Jag. The porch light is on casting a welcoming light but he realizes it is not for him, not really. And after the tough conversation to come it might never be. He picks up the folder setting in the front passenger seat and climbs from the car. He goes up to the front door and knocks.

Laura answers the door. "Come on in." She steps back to let Nikolas across the threshold. Nik comes in and looks around the house with new eyes-- the different furnishing, draperies, wall coverings. "You sounded so mysterious earlier but I can understand you not wanting to say anything around Carly. Bringing her into Deception was a big mistake, Nikolas. What happened before between me and Carly... that was just business. You really shouldn't feel like you owe her anything. She's a user. You see that now."

"No, I don't owe her anything."

"So you'll get your shares back."

"No."

"But..."

"I didn't come here to discuss Carly with you, Mother. Any more than I would discuss you with her. I came to talk to you about Deception."

"But not in front of Carly." Laura lifts a brow.

"She'll find out... if she wants to... if you do nothing to correct the situation."

"What situation?"

Nik hands the folder to Laura. "What Carly would have found if she'd pulled a year end audit of the company... what Carly would have found if you hadn't bought her out."

"What's this?" Laura opens the folder.

"Evidence of your embezzlement of funds from Deception."

"Excuse me? Are you accusing me of embezzling from my own company. My company?!" Laura looks up from the folder to Nikolas.

"The house is beautiful, Mother. How much did the redecorating cost? About $25,000? The same firm as who did your office I assume." Nik goes around the room picking up knickknacks. "Money that was taken from a Deception facilities account during the first week of your partnership with Carly. I'm sure you intended to pay it back... but then didn't have to once Carly was out of the picture. Thing is... when you took the money Carly was your partner... half of that money was hers. I'm not a lawyer... I have no idea how it would work. Could she press charges? Could she demand restitution for her half, or for the full amount? What would you have done to her... if you found out she wrote herself a $25,000 bonus?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about." Laura denies.

"Don't. Don't take that course, Mother. I have the evidence; those are merely copies." Nikolas states flatly. "I don't think Carly knows. If she did then it wouldn't be me here but someone of her choosing. I am giving you information and time to make things right before Carly does find out."

"How can you say something like this to me? I'm your mother!"

"Because you are my mother. If you were anyone but my mother, I'd be taking the information to the lawyers and let them sort it out. Information and time, Mother, that is what I'm giving you. Carly is occupied with other things. I'll keep her busy, but she is a partner in the company and, like me, she can call for an audit at anytime. It's up to you now. I'll see myself out." Nikolas turns around and leaves. Somehow he knows that an invitation to dinner isn't going to be extended.

Skye and AJ enter the mansion with some trepidation. Going into the family room, they find Lila reading by the fire. "Grandmother, Is Grandfather here?"

Lila takes one look at Skye's face. "Oh Dear. After dinner. After dinner you can share your news with him. Cook has prepared a lovely dinner, and if it is spoiled I dread to think what she will do."

"Kind of a darned if you do, darned if you don't situation, Grandmother." AJ says wryly. "Grandfather knows it is coming."

"Knows what is coming?" Edward grumps from the doorway. "The pair of you vultures hanging over my corpse? Well I'm not dead yet!"

"Edward! That was uncalled for!"

"Look at the both of them! I've seen cheerier faces on morticians. That one tying my company, my life's blood, sweat and tears, with a ribbon and bow to hand it over to Cassadine and the one stabbing me in the back to get crumbs when he should be bringing little Michael home."

"Enough Edward!" Lila says sternly. "We will have a pleasant dinner and you will not upset Emily with such talk."

"Lila!"

"You will not drive another grandchild out of this house by abusing her siblings!" Edward harrumphs at his wife's rebuke and stalks back to his study.

Reggie meets Alan and Monica at the door surprising them by taking their coats. "AJ and Skye are here. They're in with Mrs Quartermaine. I already informed Cook there will be two more for dinner." Reggie warns. The unspoken comment is clear. He'd taken the heat for the short notice addition if there is going to be more changes the family is on their own.

"Just when I thought this day couldn't get any worse. What next? You planning on giving Rae a call, Alan?" Monica doesn't wait for an answer but stalks into the family room.

"Reginald?"

"I'll go get the Tylenol."

"Thank you." Alan reluctantly joins the others in the family room. It was so much easier when he drank. A couple of martinis and the family strife took on a fuzzy haze. While he'd never admitted a problem with alcohol, the hydrocodone addiction had shown him the danger of crutches. The sniping back and forth betwen Monica and Skye has already started with no end in sight. Alan walks over to the bar and pours himself a club soda and then goes over to greet his mother. "How was your day?"

"Quiet." There is a mischievous glint in Lila's eyes.

"So was mine." Alan sighs. "Quiet and productive."

Emily comes into the family room and her jaw drops. Saturday had been the wedding and Sunday had been ribs with Lucky and Gia. She'd blocked out how... loud Quartermaine gatherings could be. She walks over to the desk in the corner of the room and grabs paper and pen and scribbles fast big block letters. Then she grabs a piece of tape from the dispenser on the desktop. Walking over to the french doors, Emily gets everyone's attention with a shrill two finger whistle. "AJ, Skye, can I see you outside?"

AJ and Skye take the offer quickly. Em follows them out but before she leaves she tapes the sheet of paper to the door and closes it so that the rest can read---

NO PARENTS ALLOWED

Em gives AJ a big hug and then steps back. "You lied to me. Do it again and I'll call you on it to your face and take out a full page ad in the Herald." Then she gives him a kiss on the cheek and moves on to Skye. "Hey, Big Sis." Em gives her a hug.

"Hey, lil Sis." Skye hugs her back grateful for the acceptance and regretful that she had ever felt she'd been in competition for affection with Emily. It had taken Em's absence to realize that her new little sister was the only unconditional affection in the Quartermaine family. Over Em's shoulder she can see Alan and Monica peeking thru the curtains but not coming out. "What did you do?"

"Something I haven't done since I was eight." Em says wryly. She goes over to the cushioned covered wrought iron patio furniture and relaxes on a chaise. She pats the one next to her. "Get comfortable. By tomorrow the misquitos will be out and we won't be able to do this."

"I'll buy some citronella candles." AJ laughs as he collapses into a nearby chair.

"Okay-- in the interests of keeping you two honest, why don't I just tell you what I know. Stavros Cassadine is likethis with Carly and is threatening to take apart ELQ to protect her and Michael from the Big Bad Quartermaines. He is claiming to not have killed anyone since he's been back from the dead but puts it all on Helena, which sounds like a lot of hair splitting to me. And just about every guy I know-- Lucky, Jason, Nikolas and even Zander want me out of this house and as far away from the Q's as they can get me and still stay inside city limits. Hell I'm waiting for them to tell me it's time for me to go back to only using Bowen."

AJ and Skye look at each other. Skye shakes her head. "You just got back. How did you get so much info so fast?"

"Ah-- she's not telling me I'm wrong." Em looks over at AJ. "You two are both living in the hotel... isn't that a Cassadine asset now? Aren't you both living on his turf?"

AJ starts swearing. "How did that one slip by me?"

"Cause we were too busy trying to shore up any semblance of ELQ in case Stavros actually does what he's threatening." Skye says grimly. "You might be up to speed, Em, but we just got hit with this one yesterday. It's been kinda chaotic. Sonofabitch! And the hits just keep coming."

Reggie comes out onto the patio. "Dinner is served."

"Let's get this over with." Skye says with some resignation rising to her feet. "I just realized I need a new place to live."

Kris waits to talk to Stavros until Carly is upstairs supervising Michael's bath and getting him ready for bed. He hands over the disc. "When I stopped by ELQ to pick it up, AJ was there."

Stavros frowns. "He has no interest in ELQ. What was he doing there? And why didn't the survellience on him mention it?"

"They did. The survellience on The Old Man also checked in. But it was irrelevent to me, since Michael wasn't with me. And as to what he was doing? From the look of it, he was assisting his sister in preparing this." Kris indicates the disc.

"A slight shift in dynamic." Stavros eyes narrow. "So AJ does have an ally within his family afterall. Every thing Carly told me indicated he was the family... scapegoat."

"Skye Chandler-Quartermaine is a recent addition to the Quartermaine family. She was coming on board about the time as you and Carly were leaving Port Charles. Carly wouldn't have known about her."

"I want a full dossier on her."

"I've already ordered one."

"Good."

Carly comes bouncing down the stairs. "Okay, Michael is crashed out upstairs. So what were you wimps thinking? What happened to the full schedule of classes... the computer project... You know, Kris, all the stuff you said you were going to cover with Michael today?"

"Michael was distracted today and not giving his full attention to his studies." Stavros defends.

"Um yeah! And as long as he can go to the park instead of doing his studies he'll continue to be distracted! I swear you two spoil him rotten!"

"Is this still about me forwarding the phones to you?" Stavros guesses with narrowed eyes.

"No. Yes! It's not fair. I was at work and you guys were at the park!"

"It was an educational field trip." Kris inserts.

"I told Nik you guys would come up with some bullshit euphemism for ditching." Carly crosses her arms and looks smug.

"It was a scientific exploration of spring." Kris defends. "Utilizing elements of botany, biology and ecology."

"un-huh. Right. And you guys would make getting a banana split an exercise in fractions... Michael, can you tell me what fraction of ice cream the chocolate scoop is of the entire split?"

Kris grins. "Zero. He ate the chocolate scoop first."

"You guys are not getting it! And I'm going to strangle you both!"

"Caroline." Stavros had used her focus on Kris to go over to the table and pick up a print and hand it to her.

Carly falls silent. "My baby took this?" She finally asks. Her voice is thick. She traces a finger over the print.... the tiny blade of grass, the tinier droplet of water.

"I think he should call it Spring." Stavros suggests.

"Yeah, me too."

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