Chapter 17
"Found it!" Carly calls out, grinning ear to ear. After days upon days of looking at the Deception Cosmetics profile, Carly finally finds something she can use.
Stefan looks up from his desk. "Found what?"
A notebook computer in her lap, Carly is madly scribbling on her yellow notepad next to her. "A way to destroy Katherine Bell's little company...." Suddenly she slows down and looks at Stefan. "Uh, how much money do we... I mean 'you'... have to use on this little project?"
Stefan is already up and crossing the room to stand behind her. "Depends on how much I will ultimately be able to recoup. What do you have in mind?"
Carly points to the computer screen. "Well, it turns out the company that provides her with her essences to make her new line of fragrances, Le Femme, is financially strapped. With everything you taught me in the last couple days about mergers and acquisitions, I'd say it's ripe for a takeover."
"Excellent," Stefan murmurs appreciatively. "Would you like to arrange the buyout? With coaching from me every step of the way."
"You'd let me?!"
Stefan smiles down at her. "Like Tai Chi, the only way to learn is by doing. The first step is to select the appropriate Cassadine holding company. You remember our discussion the other day about holding companies?"
Carly nods. "Yeah, they're like the alias I used when I came to town."
Stefan walks around the room as he explains. "Precisely. If Katherine were to be able to discern what we are doing before we are ready to strike, we would lose our advantage..."
"And advantage is everything," Carly responds automatically. Knowing Stefan is going to be explaining their next move for some time, Carly puts aside the laptop computer and settles herself in her chair.
Stefan stops abruptly when he notices she's changed position. "Caroline.." His voice holds a hint of warning.
"Don't stop now, I'm listening!" Carly prods good naturedly. "I promise to tell you if my eyes glaze over. But I don't think they will, not when we're scheming to bring Katherine Bell down."
Stefan smirks. "She will be on her knees before we are through with her."
"As long as I get to see her face when it happens, it'll be worth it."
The next day.
Stefan and Carly are just arriving back at Wyndemere after an invigorating ride. "Oh, that was over much too soon for me," Carly complains breathlessly, her eyes sparkling with happiness.
"It was no shorter than any of our previous rides," Stefan comments. While his manner is less effusive than Carly, his eyes also shine with happiness.
"Yeah, I know, but it's always over too quickly. I feel so alive out there, you know?" Carly sighs as she smooths out his black jacket, letting her fingers straighten the lapels with easy intimacy.
"You LOOK alive out there, Caroline," Stefan replies, drawn in a disconcerting way to touching her, rubbing his hands up and down her upper arms. It wasn't his nature to engage in casual contact, even with lovers, but with Carly touching him so often, he found it impossible not to reciprocate. Despite his discomfort he found whole experience pleasant.
He brushes her hair away from her face, committing how she looks at this moment to memory. The fact is, he feels more alive during these moments alone with her than he has in a long time.
As if she's in synch with his thoughts, Carly says, "You seem happy too. Are you happy, Stefan?"
Stefan runs a thumb over her lips, carressing them and resisting the urge to kiss them. Happy? He was afraid to think it, much less say it out loud. Last time he thought he was happy, it had all come crashing down. "I've learned not to measure my life in those terms, Caroline. I prefer to measure it in other ways... but to answer your question in my own terms... I would say for the most part I am satisfied." He glances around the room significantly. "In the months after Nikolas left for Oxford, this house seemed very empty, hollow. And while I don't feel the loss as keenly as I did when he first left, I still miss him sorely."
Stefan gets a far off look, one Carly has witnessed from time to time when he thought no one was looking. Now she understands what it means. "You two still talk, don't you?"
"Yes, through letters and occasional phone call, but I fear we will never be as close as we once were." Stefan's smile is a wistful one. "He is no longer my little boy. He is a grown man with his own life, I only wish he choose to live it in closer proximity to me."
Before anything more can be said, his private phone rings. "I better answer that..." Stefan says as he crosses the room to answer it. "Stefan Cassadine."
"Hello, Mr Cassadine, it's Margo Renfield," Margo says smoothly. "You must have worked some powerful magic in the court clerk's office, because we have a date for Carly's hearing. Next Monday with Judge David Walker. Never in all my years with custody cases have I been able to get a hearing this fast."
"Excellent," Stefan says smoothly, all traces of his melancholy gone. "Let me put Caroline on the phone. She will want to hear this in person." He hands the phone to a startled Carly.
"Hi," Carly says uncertainly.
"Hello Carly, it's Margo. I have terrific news! We have a hearing date in front of Judge Walker for next Monday. I'll fly to Port Charles and we'll discuss the case in detail."
"Really? So soon?!" Suddenly weak-kneed, Carly grabs the back of a chair to keep herself upright.
"You're ready to see Michael, aren't you?" Margo asks. "If things keep moving at lightening speed, you may see him as early as the end of next week."
Carly regains her footing quickly. "Yeah, of course."
"Good," Margo replies. "Alexis sent me all the pertinent documents, including her notes during the last court proceeding. We have to discuss how to present yourself as favorably as possible in court."
The Quartermaine Estate
The doorbell rings incessantly. Finally not able to stand it any longer, Edward gets up from his chair with a bellow. "REGINALD!?!" When there's no answer Edward starts to mutter. "Where in tarnation is everyone?! Why do we pay for servants if they aren't around to answer the damn door." The doorbell rings again. "Coming, COMING!!" He flings open the door and upon seeing an unassuming messenger, demands gruffly," Well, what is it?" Seeing the envelope in the man's hand, Edward reaches for it. "Who's it for?"
"It's for Alan Quartermaine Jr..." The messenger says nervously, shoving the clipboard in Edward's face. "He's supposed to sign for it."
"Yes, yes," Edward says impatiently, signing it in a hurry. He looks at the return address, and seeing it's a certified letter from a lawyer, Edward slams the door. "AJ!! GET DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW!"
Monica arrives on the upstairs landing. "Is it necessary to bellow at all hours of the day?! You're going to wake Michael with all this racket."
"I don't care if I wake the whole house!" Edward yells back. "Find AJ, this is an emergency."
AJ arrives on the landing a moment later, looking annoyed. "Grandfather, I'm really getting tired of being summoned like the family pet. What's the emergency now?"
"AJ, stop whining and get down here!" Edward demands again, waving the envelope. "You've got a certified letter from a lawyer in New York."
Filled with dread, AJ and Monica descend the stairs in record time. "You don't think it's that witch Carly, trying to get Michael back, do you?" Monica asks.
They quickly retire to the living room and shut the doors. AJ rips open the envelope, and he whistles softly. "It's from Carly, alright. She got a hearing in front of Judge Walker, requesting visitation. Monday, no less."
"Damn it all, AJ, do something!" Edward puffs up. "You can't let that gold digger get anywhere near that little boy. Call your lawyer.... have him put a stop to this nonsense."
AJ already has the phone in hand, dialing. When the person on the other line answers, he says, "Yeah, let me talk to Adrian, it's AJ Quartermaine, and it's urgent... Adrian, It's AJ. I just received court documents from a lawyer named Margo Renfield for Carly Benson. It's a hearing to petition for visitation. Tell me how we can stop this. The hearing is Monday... WHAT? What do you mean we can't do anything? Can't we at least ask for a continuance? There isnt' enough time to prepare... Fine, I'll be there in an hour." AJ turns off the phone.
Well, well, what did Adrian say?" Edward demands, rubbing his hands together nervously.
"He said we can't do anything about the hearing date. And when I told him it was Margo Renfield, he started stuttering and said I should be prepared to let Carly see Michael. Apparently, she's some hotshot custody lawyer." His face pale, AJ shakes his head. "DAMN! I thought we got rid of Carly for good."
"Who's paying for this fancy lawyer, huh?" Edward asks with a scowl. "There no way that little vixen has the money or connections for a lawyer like that. Unless she has Jason hoodwinked again."
Monica crosses her arms. "I can tell you who's bankrolling Carly.. none other than Stefan Cassadine. She came prancing into GH with him the other day."
Chapter 18
Wyndemere conservatory.
Carly sits on the sofa with Margo, while Stefan sits off to the side in one of the high back chairs. The conversation is well underway.
"Okay, now that we've covered the basics for this hearing, let's start talking about custody." Margo flips a page on her legal pad so she has a fresh sheet of paper. "I assume you want to fight for custody rights?"
"Yes, absolutely." After throwing a glance at Stefan, Carly bites her lip nervously. "Do I even stand a chance?"
"I don't believe in fighting lost causes, Ms Benson," Margo says with a smile. "I fight to win. I'm not going to mislead you, this is an uphill battle. But I think we have a shot at winning. The first thing we have to do is present you as favorably to the court as possible." She starts jotting down things on the note pad. "You have a job with Cassadine Inc, right? With a stable income?"
Carly's eyes widen and she looks at Stefan uncertainly, and is relieved when he nods.
Seeing Stefan nod yes, Margo continues. "Good, that's a start. You need your own residence, a house preferably. You need to show the court you can provide a secure environment for Michael to live in, that isn't going to change on a whim." Not waiting for them to respond, Margo presses on. "You also have to establish some credibility... people with standing in the community who will stand up in court and say you will be a healthy influence on Michael."
At this point, Margo looks up and sees Carly's pale face. "I looked over the court documents, I see this is a problem for you. AJ's lawyer skewered your reputation last time out. But keep in mind, these supervised visitations will help prove our point. You will be seen with Michael, and if we can prove that you have a positive relationship with your little boy, the judge will naturally be inclined to give you more visitation, and eventually maybe even joint custody. The more quickly you can rebuild your reputation as a responsible and loving mother, the more swiftly we can move forward with custody. Any way you look at it, time is on your side."
Stefan watches from across the table as Carly moves her food around her plate. She's been unusually quiet and withdrawn since their meeting with Margo. He lifts his wine goblet and takes a sip then addresses her "Is the food and the company unsatisfactory this evening?" He asks, deliberately being formal to get a rise out of her.
Carly puts down her fork, giving up all pretense of eating. "I'm sorry, I'm just not hungry tonight. The food is wonderful, everything's fine....." She stops herself from saying anything more. He'd done so much for her already, she's determined to figure this out herself. "I hope you don't mind, but I'd like to be by myself this evening." She gets up to leave but Stefan takes hold of her hand.
"Yes," Stefan answers, looking her straight in the eye. "I do mind. Sit down. It is time you told me what has you so preoccupied. I assume it has to do with the custody case."
Carly fights with herself. A month ago, she wouldn't have hesitated taking any help he offered... or taking advantage of anyone to get what she wanted and needed. She knows if she tells him what is worrying her, he'll go about fixing it. It's what he does... paying for the custody lawyer, tutoring her in business, giving her a roof over her head, helping her feel good about herself again, and most of all giving her hope about Michael.
She doesn't want to owe him any more than she already does. He practically owns her soul as it is. Maybe she's being naive, but she doesn't think he's helping her because of some hidden agenda. But as her mind rests on that thought, she can't get it out of her mind. She looks up at him. "Why are you helping me? What's in it for you?"
Stefan is a bit thrown, not expecting the non sequitur. "Why are you asking this question now?"
Carly notices he evades the question, but lets it slide for the moment. "Because you always have a reason for helping someone, Stefan. You said so yourself, you live life like a chess game, every move you make has to have an advantage for you or you don't expend the effort. So why are you helping me?"
Stefan's temper flares. He doesn't like being questioned like this, especially about his motives and especially by her. Deep down, he has to admit she has a point. Helping her doesn't gain him any advantage, not even in keeping her as his mistress. In fact, his latest move to help her win custody of Michael will cost him. It will hasten her departure from Wyndemere, which above all else he does not want. But Stefan ruthlessly pushes that aside to deal with her latest curve ball.
"Is it your wish to insult me, Caroline?" His voice is soft and lethal and it causes Carly to cringe. "If so, you have succeeded. Would you prefer I withdraw my assistance and let you flounder on your own? Perhaps you distrust that my motives are in your best interests?" He gets up and turns his back to her as he paces, shaking with indignation. "I foolishly thought we had moved past distrust and questioning motives. But I see that I am mistaken. Now, after receiving some excellent news from Ms Renfield you have become withdrawn, sullen, and suspicious..." Stefan turns and fixes her with a fierce glare, while underneath fear takes hold. "Perhaps you are rethinking your alliance with me? That I have become a liability?"
Carly pales. How had he come to that conclusion? "NO, God NO!" She rushes forward, trying to touch his cheek to reassure him only to have him flinch. "Stefan, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to imply anything like that, I'm just confused and mixed up, okay? I... I feel like I owe you so much, I practically owe you my whole life, and what do I have to give you in return? Nothing, nothing at all. And I got scared for a minute." This time Carly reaches up to touch him and he doesn't move away. She looks him straight in the eye, letting him see deep into her soul, see her fear, her vulnerability and her gratitude. "Can you see how I might be scared, Stefan? I have nothing without you. And it's days like this, I realize it most. And then I begin to wonder why you'd want to have anything to do with me."
Stefan frames her face with his hands and kisses her with slow deliberateness, showing her under no uncertain terms that he wants her and how much. He breaks the kiss to look into her eyes again. "It amazes me how little you think of yourself. You are the one remaking yourself, not I."
That oh so familiar ache is there, urging Carly to let him take her upstairs so they can make love until they fall asleep out of sheer exhaustion. She can see the desire in his eyes, and she's more than a little tempted. But in a rare spurt of wisdom she realizes the issues causing this argument would still be there, looming.
Kissing his hand, Carly leads him over to the sofa and sits down beside him. "You're right about one thing, our meeting with Margo. It's got me all tied up in knots. And when I thought of telling you what's eating at me, I couldn't." She looks in her lap for a moment as she tries to compose what she's going to say. "Something Margo said today reminded me of one of the first things you told me when I came to live here. It was about how you wanted me to leave Wyndemere better off than when I came. And how I've always relied on some guy to take care of me. Margo said today that I have to show the court that I have a stable income, and stable home environment, and that I can be responsible parent." Carly squeezes his hand. "And somehow it just clicked with what you've been saying all along."
Stefan can see where this is going, but understands that she needs to be the one to say it. "Go on."
"I need to start being independent. Solve my own problems, not have you solve them for me. Even if it means I might fall on my face."
Stefan studies her for a long time, seemingly sizing her up, gauging whether she means what she's saying. "Then it is time," He says finally, letting go of her hand to rise from the couch. He heads for the study, and a few moments later he returns holding a small leather bound folder. "This is for you."
Carly takes it from his hands. "What is it?"
"An investment portfolio I created from your salary as an employee of Cassadine Inc.," Stefan explains simply. "I took the liberty of investing it for you, until such time as you were ready to take over the responsibility yourself."
Carly looks at him and then at the folder, dumbfounded. "How--? Why?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Stefan smiles encouragingly. "Look it over, I think you'll be pleased."
A lump in her throat, Carly opens the folder with trembling hands. No one in her entire life has done anything like this for her. She takes one look at the numbers and tears fill her eyes. She closes the folder and hands it back to him. "I can't accept this, it's too much."
"All of my employees are generously compensated, Caroline, not just you. I have found the practice helps ensure loyalty. Do not doubt that you have earned every penny of this," Stefan says with complete conviction as he places it back in her lap. "It is yours to do with as you wish. Until you tell me otherwise, your salary will be deposited into this account."
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