Chapter 28
Not even bothering to hide his satisfaction, Stefan shuts his laptop computer with an authoritative snap. "It is time."
Carly looks up from her perch on the nearby sofa. "Katherine Bell?"
"Yes, I just received a message from the loan officer that she's asking for an extension on her loan. He has set up a meeting this afternoon for her to meet with her creditors at her office." A conspiratorial smile creeps across his face. "We are her creditors."
Carly grins widely. "Oh, I can't wait to see the look on her face when we walk through her doors. She is going to have a fit!"
Stefan stands in front of her, crooking a finger under her chin and locking gazes. "How would you like to run the meeting?"
Bobbie and Monica are walking through Lila's Rose Garden. "Thank you for letting me see Michael, Monica. I really needed to after the week I've had."
"Well, it was good for Michael too. I could tell. He didn't fight sitting on your lap for one thing." They take a seat on a nearby bench and enjoy smell of the fresh spring air. "I wish I could say the same for my time with him. I keep trying though, because I know it's the only way he'll get used to me."
"How's AJ adjusting to full-time fatherhood?" Bobbie asks.
"Oh, he tries," Monica says, with lack of conviction. Biting her lip, she decides to say more. "It seems like AJ's always at the office. I know there are all kinds of crises with ELQ these days that require his attention, but I would have thought he'd make Michael a priority no matter what is going on elsewhere. Frankly, I'm scared that he's given up on his son. Michael won't let AJ near him without screaming."
"Oh boy," Bobbie winces, not only for AJ but for Michael as well. "That has to be hard for both of them.... and hard for you to watch."
"I feel like I'm watching a repeat of Alan's relationship with AJ and it's scaring the hell out of me," Monica admits. "Alan has seen it too, but AJ won't listen to a word about it from either of us. He's so defensive. And now Carly has wormed her way into seeing Michael again and the whole family is in an uproar about it." Monica shakes her head. "Look at me. I'm baring my soul to you, and you're the one who's lost so much. I'm sorry."
Bobbie looks at her hands sadly. "You know, seeing Michael today made me realize how much I've missed him. Just because Carly isn't my daughter doesn't mean I've stopped caring for him. It doesn't matter if he isn't my family officially, he is my grandson in my heart."
"This has to be so hard for you." Monica puts her hand over Bobbie's and smiles sadly at her. "I heard Amy gossiping about your run-in with Carly. She said you got the better of her, but I know seeing her after all she's done can't be easy for you."
"God, Monica! You have no idea! Even now that girl can get me going. I shouldn't care when I see her. I shouldn't feel anything. But here I am trapped in an elevator with her, and I'm so infuriated, I just couldn't stop myself. The next thing I know I'm ranting at her like a lunatic and then I slap her. It felt sooooo good for about five seconds and then I just felt so empty." Bobbie is dismayed to find herself swiping tears from the corners of her eyes. How did they slip out? "Can you believe I miss her? I do. I miss having my daughter. And I'm so angry that Carly got me to love her and it all turned out to be one big scam! I gave my all to that girl! Every bit of love I had in my heart I poured into her... hoping upon hope that I could heal the hole she has inside her. And for a while there, I honestly believed I reached her."
Bobbie sighs heavily, looking and feeling defeated. "And now I have all these feelings for her that have nowhere to go. And feelings for the little girl I gave up for adoption that I have no place for.. At least with BJ, I have a grave site."
Monica squeezes Bobbie's hands. "Have you thought of finding where your oldest daughter is buried?"
Bobbie pulls out a handkerchief and blots her damp face. "I will eventually, it's just that everything is still so raw. I can't go the next step until I've really put Carly behind me, because I don't want to bring all this bitterness with me when I go."
Katherine Bell scurries around her offices, making sure everything looks pristine and organized. She looks over at her second in command. "George, do you have those projections I asked for?"
George, a slim nervous man in his early forties, gasps and runs back out of her office. Katherine snarls at his back, looking as if she's ready to follow after him and take a bite out of him. "Is everyone around me incompetent?! At this rate, Deception won't last a month!"
Her intercom buzzes, and Katherine's secretary speaks. "Ms Bell, your next appointment is here."
Katherine smooths her hair back and takes in a deep breath. "Okay, send them in. Tell George I want him in my office with that report in ten minutes or I'll have his job."
The secretary ends the connection. With great polish, Katherine strides to her office door and opens it as soon as she hears a knock. "Hello, I'm glad ...." The words die in her throat when she sees Stefan Cassadine and Carly Benson standing in front of her. Her mouth drops for the briefest moment, but she regains her composure quickly. "I'm sorry, you two will have to see my secretary to make an appointment if you need to see me. I can't possibly see you now, I have a critical meeting that can't be delayed."
Katherine goes to close her door, but Carly puts her foot forward and blocks her. "We know you have an appointment, Katherine," Carly says, not even trying to hide her huge grin. "Didn't your secretary tell you? We're IT."
Katherine's face contorts as a myriad of emotions play across it, disbelief, fear, until finally resting on outrage. Her eyes shoot daggers at the smug Carly as she stands toe to toe with her. "I should have seen this coming! This is a set up!"
"You think?" Carly asks, not even flinching. "What was your first clue?"
Katherine looks as if she wants to hit Carly, but steps back instead. Her chest rises and falls with the fury that courses through her body. Realizing her chances of saving her company are nil if she goes for Carly's throat, she forces herself to calm down. Pretending that Carly isn't there, she turns to Stefan, her eyes and posture softening as she looks at Stefan helplessly. "Stefan, I'm so sorry for behaving badly. Please have a seat so we can discuss this. I'm afraid I don't take surprises well." She holds a chair for him in front of her desk, purposefully leaving Carly to find her own way to the other chair.
Carly takes the free seat, Katherine's obvious behavior would be more amusing if she wasn't putting her hands on Stefan's shoulder proprietarily. "The only thing we have to discuss is how we're going to take apart your company. Unless, of course, you have the money to pay off the loan?"
Katherine continues to focus her attention on Stefan, to the point of pretending that Carly isn't there. "Surely you intend on being reasonable, Stefan. Otherwise why come here?"
"Maybe it was to see you squirm," Carly puts in, not able to resist the jibe. "Which I might say, it quite entertaining. Your company is dead, Katherine. Have the sense to give it up now."
Katherine's narrows her eyes at Carly, glaring hatefully. "What is this, Stefan? Take your stepdaughter-to-work day? Does she really need to be here?"
Stefan's stoic expression darkens, causing Katherine to blanch. "You dare cast aspersions in my direction after you seduced my teenage son? You were almost his stepmother, or have you forgotten that?" He stands up and holds out his hand to Carly. "Enough of this nonsense. It has ceased to be amusing. The details of the loan are clear. Unless Caroline or I deem to make an extension. your loan goes into foreclosure. If that happens, your company can no longer do business. I would suggest you use the next twenty four hours to clear out your desk and make any last minute decisions, rather than wasting our time pleading for extension we aren't going to give."
Katherine leaps out from behind her desk and grabs Stefan's sleeve as he turns around to leave. "Stefan, please! After everything we've been through, all the history we've shared... you owe me a private audience. I'm sure if I we could talk alone, we could come to some sort of understanding..." Her eyes fill with tears as she pleads her case. "Please, Stefan. After everything we've done to each other, I deserve this."
Carly tries to step in between them, her eyes blazing.. "Listen, Sister, he doesn't OWE you anything, and the only thing between you two is this loan. Get it through your thick skull. Stefan is MINE."
Stefan puts his hand in the middle of Carly's back, effectively stopping her. "I appreciate your impassioned defense, Caroline, but I do think Katherine and I need to discuss a few things... alone."
Startled, Carly's eyes dart up to Stefan's face, her heart plummeting to her stomach when she sees he's quite serious. He wants to talk to Katherine alone, and knowing him as she does, she knows he had this planned before they even walked through this door. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she stands up straight and forces an aura of confidence she doesn't feel. She avoids looking at Katherine, knowing that if she sees Katherine's look of triumph, she'll go for her throat. "I'll see you in the car then."
Stefan watches Carly leave before turning back to Katherine. "What is it that you wanted to discuss?"
Katherine runs her hands up Stefan's broad chest appreciatively to twine around his neck. "You went to rather dramatic lengths to get my attention, Stefan. Why didn't you say you wanted to rekindle our relationship? I would have been more than happy to pick up where we left off."
Before she can kiss him, Stefan grimaces with distaste and plucks her hands from around his neck and steps out of reach. "Believe me, if I knew this is what you would do when I asked Caroline to let us talk privately, I would have insisted she stay. There isn't, nor will there ever be, anything between us. Let me make this abundantly clear: you repulse me."
Katherine recoils, flushing pink with mortification. "Well then, why... why did you agree to meet with me?! You want something! I know you. What is it?"
"You are correct," Stefan replies smoothly. "I do want something. And if you wish to save your company and any hope of having a future in business, you will give it to me without a fuss."
Katherine strokes her throat nervously, feeling the invisible noose tighten her neck. This man won't be denied. "What do you want?"
"Your ELQ stock."
 Chapter 29
Carly sits in the limo with her eyes closed. "This is just great," She mutters. "Stefan asks me to run the meeting, then when Katherine bats her baby blues, he sends me to the car like I'm a pet or something."
Carly shakes her head and sighs. That isn't entirely fair. Stefan has given her more responsibility and power than she ever dreamed he would. Yes, he's thrown her this curve ball, but it isn't reason enough not to trust him. He's thrown her curve balls before, but always with good reason. Trust him, she tells herself. Give him a chance to explain. With everything he's done for you, he deserves that at the very least.
The door to the limo opens and Stefan slips inside and taps on the window to signal the driver. Within moments, they are on their way to the docks. Carly gives Stefan an assessing look and notes the small but unmistakable smile of satisfaction. The knot in her stomach that she didn't know was there, eases a bit. "So Deception is ours? I bet Katherine Bell is crushed."
"Not precisely," Stefan says cryptically.
Before Stefan can say anything more, Carly pounces. "What do you mean, not precisely?! Wasn't that the whole point of the work I've been doing? To take over Deception?"
"Yes, and you did a commendable job." Stefan takes her hand and brings it to his lips. "I sensed you had a natural talent for it, but you surpassed my expectations. You will make a fine businesswoman."
"Oh please," Carly rolls her eyes while laughing. "Flattery will get you only so far. You still haven't answered my question. Do we have Deception or not?"
"No, Deception will remain in Katherine Bell's control. Katherine and I arranged a deal in which her loan will be paid in exchange for stock."
"You did WHAT?!" Stefan's words are like lighting a match to dynamite. "You went behind my back and cut a deal for her to keep Deception after I worked my BUTT off to bring it down?!" Her eyes blazing with fury, Carly snatches her hand away and pounds on the glass separating them from the driver. "The hell with you! You want to screw her until your brains fall out, FINE. But I'm not sticking around to watch!" The car comes to an abrupt stop and Carly fumbles with her seat belt.
Before Carly can open the door, Stefan captures her face between his hands and kisses deeply, stroking the inside of her mouth intimately in a way he knows makes her breathless. As her struggles to escape continue, he wraps his arms around her in a vise grip, effectively pinning her hands against his chest. He kisses her endlessly, relentlessly seducing her until all she can think about is making love to him and all she feels are his kisses, his body enveloping her.
Only when her struggles cease and she kisses him back fervently does he loosen his hold on her. Lifting his head, he looks down at her and is stunned to see tears filling her eyes. "Caroline... " His voice cracks and he cradles her head in his hands. He's at a complete loss off words. He kisses her eyes tenderly. "Shssh, it's alright. There is no reason to cry."
"I don't understand...." Carly sniffles. "I thought you wanted me. I thought we were a team. Now... Now I don't know what to think. First you send me out of the room, and you tell me you gave Katherine Deception back. Then you kiss me like that, I can't even think straight."
Stefan tips her head back and forces her to look into his eyes, to see the certainty in them as he speaks. "You are the one I want as my lover, Caroline. You and only you. There is no other woman I desire more."
"Then explain to me why you had me working to take Deception down just so you could give it back to her. I know you must have had this planned out all along. You don't make spur of the moment decisions like this."
Stefan rebuckles her seat belt and signals the driver to resume driving. Taking her hands in his, he strokes them soothingly. "The goal was always to get her shares of ELQ. And I knew she would not part with them unless the situation was dire."
Carly's eyes go wide. "You... you have her shares of ELQ... why... what do you have planned?"
"To control the Quartermaines, of course." Stefan smile is feral. "What better way than by having a large block of stock in their company? In the last several months, I have quietly purchased shares of ELQ stock that aren't owned by the Quartermaine family."
"You bought Sonny's stock too? I wondered how Sonny and Jason got out from under the charges." Awed, Carly covers her mouth with her hand. "The Q's don't know, do they?"
"No, they haven't a clue. I have instructed Sonny Corinthos to continue to vote my stock for the time being. I did not want them to get advance notice and find a way to block it." He cocks his head to one side. "You see now that my plan had merit."
"It would have had just as much merit with me knowing about it," Carly argues, most of the anger and hurt gone from her voice. "I don't like how you keep me in the dark like this. Why couldn't you tell me what you were planning with Katherine?"
"It was important to keep Katherine off balance," Stefan explains. "She had to truly believe she was going to lose Deception, or she wouldn't have parted with the stock. And you played your part convincingly."
"Or rather you played ME," Carly mutters under her breath. "For once I would like to be in on the scheme from the beginning."
"I have something for you.... a reward as it were, for a job well done." Stefan hands her large manila envelope.
Carly senses from Stefan's manner that this is no run of the mill envelope. She takes it from him with care, hesitating in opening it. She looks at the envelope and then back at him. "What is it?"
Stefan taps the envelope. "Open it."
Carly slips one finger under the flap and opens it, pulling out a document gingerly. Her eyes grow large as she reads it. "You... you're giving me...?"
"My proxy on the shares of ELQ stock that used to be owned by Katherine Bell," Stefan finishes for her. "It is yours to vote as you see fit. I believe you've earned it, don't you?"
Pleased that he's rendered her speechless, he leans over and whispers in her ear, "Can't you just imagine Edward and AJ's faces when you walk into the next board meeting? I, for one, wouldn't miss it for the world."
After dinner, Carly and Stefan retire to the conservatory. "This will be our last night alone for some time," Stefan announces.
Carly nods without looking up. She hates that she's moody on tonight of all nights. With Nikolas coming tomorrow, they won't have many nights alone like this for a while. Without even discussing it, they had come to the mutual decision that they would be more discreet with Nikolas in town and the custody battle looming. Keeping separate residences made sense on many levels.
Stefan walks up behind her and plants a kiss on the back of her neck, interrupting her thoughts. "You are unusually quiet this evening. Care to share what has you so preoccupied?"
Carly turns to face him, giving him a too-bright smile. "Nothing that needs to be dealt with tonight...." Sliding a hand up his chest and under his suit coat, she kneads his leanly muscled chest while drawing him into a lingering kiss. She savors his taste, letting her tongue explore the depths of his mouth while attempting to get him to forget everything but what is happening between them
Stefan draws back suddenly and stares down into her face intently. "Tell me what is wrong."
Carly sighs unhappily, leaning against him for support. "Why is it okay for you to use sex to manipulate me into forgetting everything but you, but when I try to do the same thing you stop me?"
Stefan buries his hands in her silky blonde hair, caressing her skull soothingly with his expert fingers. "You are still upset with me about this afternoon."
"Yes, no... " Carly shakes her head in annoyance. "God, I don't know if I'm mad or not. I just...." She sighs again. "I just don't like that you don't trust me."
Stefan pulls her against his chest. "But I do trust you. More than I ever thought possible."
Knowing if she lets Stefan continue to hold her, that she won't be able to say what she needs to say, she pulls away and walks across the room to the window. "You've done so much for me, Stefan. You've done more for me than anyone in my entire life. You took me in when I was at my lowest, and you helped me get my life back on track. Here I am, about to get custody of Michael back, when before I thought I'd be lucky to ever see him again! And I have a future to look forward to, MY future, not someone else's. I've never had that.... You gave that all to me."
"Obviously this is a problem?" Stefan asks in confusion.
"No! Well..." Carly looks down sheepishly. "Maybe a little. When you do what you did today... keep me in the dark, manipulate me, I feel used, like I'm some toy or pet you play with, not your partner."
Carly looks up and sees the rigidness in his body, the anger blazing in his eyes and her heart plummets. This is what she'd been most afraid of. "Stefan, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound so harsh..."
"It is what you truly believe, is it not?" Stefan approaches, coming to a stand a couple feet away from her. "If I do not trust you, why would I risk giving you my proxy?"
"I feel like a complete ingrate, okay?!" Carly exclaims with tears filling her eyes. "I want to crawl into a hole and die because I should be grateful for all you do for me, rather than whining." Swiping angrily at the tears, she looks at her feet in shame. "I just wish for ONCE, just once, I could do something for you, something meaningful... or be your equal, rather than some pitiful little thing you take care of. It's humiliating."
Carly feels his arms envelope her in a warm embrace, his hand cupping the back of her head, pressing her cheek into his chest. For a moment she stands rigid in his arms, but when she hears him whisper her name into her ear, his voice full of regret, she melts into him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I didn't want to fight with you tonight," Carly says when she regains her composure. "Not our last night together. I'm sorry, I've ruined everything."
Stefan kisses her forehead. "You have nothing to apologize for, and you haven't ruined anything. What you said needed to be said. And perhaps, I can give you a little of what you ask for."
Taking her hand, Stefan leads her to the couch. They sit together, their hands clasped together, their knees touching as they face each other. "You recall how I told you of my purchasing Sonny Corinthos' ELQ stock?"
Carly nods. "There's more to the story?"
"I left out some details, details that I decided you had no need of knowing." Stefan cocks his head to the side, watching Carly carefully for any change, for any reaction, and prepared to adjust what he's telling her to fit her reaction. "I am by nature a secretive man, Caroline, which I'm sure you have guessed by now. I will not make excuses or apologize, it is who I am."
Carly stifles a snort of derision. She seriously doubts there is a person in Port Charles that doesn't know how secretive Stefan is. At his frown of displeasure, she smiles encouragingly. "Go on, I'm listening."
"I made the deal with Sonny Corinthos for his ELQ stock shortly after you came to live with me. The offer was simple," Stefan explains. "In exchange for his ELQ stock, the evidence against him and Jason Morgan would cease to exist." Seeing her nod, he continues. "I can see you are not surprised by this, but there was one other provision in the agreement. It pertained to you."
"Me?" Carly's breath catches.
Stefan nods. "You are off limits to them. They cannot touch you, or exact any retribution."
Carly blinks rapidly, stunned by his revelation. "And if they try to hurt me?"
"Then they will find out what happens to those who cross me."
Chapter 30
She wakes to feel his hot breath on her throat, his lips brushing her skin in a whisper soft caress and his body laying beside her, warming her bed and her body with his proximity. She groans and closes her eyes, lifting her chin to give him better access to her throat. "God, I was hoping you would come."
"I couldn't stay away...." His mouth presses into her throat, alternately nipping and sucking her skin as his hands part her pajama top, laying her perfectly rounded breasts bare to his ardent gaze. "I couldn't be apart from you another moment..."
The raven haired beauty lets out a raspy chuckle. "You are fulfilling one of my darkest dreams, did you know that?" She lets out a gasp as his hands envelope her breasts fully. She never could get enough of this man's touch, the only man who has ever possessed her. "But Grandfather is going to have a heart attack if he catches you in here, ravaging me. And then afterwards, he's going to have you skinned alive." In direct contrast to her warning words, she pulls him closer, slipping one of her long legs between his thighs, rubbing him provocatively as her hands stroke his short dark hair. "But if you're not worried, then I'm not going to stop you. Not tonight, not when I've been fantasizing about you for days on end." Her tongue finds the sensitive spot behind his ear and she revels in her power when he moans her name.
He pins her hands to the bed and captures her mouth with his. The kiss is searing, possessive and seductive at the same time. By the time he done ravaging her mouth, they are both dazed. "You keep doing that, and I'll lose what little self control I have left. I'm in short supply at the moment." He groans again when she takes a nips at his neck. "But then that's been our problem from the beginning."
Emily pushes against his chest forcefully, and uses the momentum to roll on top of him. Smiling triumphantly, she straddles his waist and tugs his shirt open. "At times like these, self control is overrated. Tonight is for us." Her eyes drink in his glorious male body, He was magnificent, more beautiful that her even her wild imagination could conjure; she had to see all of him again, reassure herself that he was hers.. Running her palms down his washboard stomach to the top of his pants, she smiles when his breath catches. "What did you think would happen when you slipped into my bedroom? Did you really think I'd let you leave with your virtue intact?"
He lets out a soft bark of laughter. "You took what was left of my tattered virtue a long time ago, Emily." What an incredibly erotic picture she presents him. Her long brown hair beautifully disarrayed, her pajama top open and her breasts partially revealed with the nipples erect with arousal, her face flushed, her lips swollen from his kisses. This was his long time innocent friend turned enthusiastic lover. A treasure. And he wanted her like no other.
His hands slide up her thighs and under her satin pajama shorts to cup her bare bottom. "You are wearing too many clothes."
Emily unbuckles his belt buckle. "I'm not the only one...."
"He should have been here by now," Stefan worries as he looks at his watch. "Why haven't I heard from the limousine driver?"
"He'll be here, maybe he had an unscheduled stop..." Carly smooths an imaginative wrinkle out of Stefan's suit jacket. "You must be excited," she murmurs softly. "You're antsy."
Stefan breathes deeply to settle his nerves, then crooks his head at her. "It has been much too long since he has visited. Phone calls from across the water are not as satisfying as seeing him in person, and he doesn't let me visit him during the school term. Something about hovering?"
Carly chuckles, placing a kiss on his bearded. "It's nice to see you this way, so fatherly. You dote on him, and I think that's sweet."
Just then, there is a sound behind them. Stefan and Carly turn to find Nikolas standing at the doorway studying them carefully. "Hello Father," Nikolas says softly as he enters the room. "I asked the chauffeur and the launch operator not to announce me, I wanted to surprise you. It appears I did."
Stefan separates from Carly to share a warm embrace with his son. "Nikolas, welcome home."
After a moment, father and son end the embrace and Stefan turns Nikolas to face Carly. "Have you met Caroline Benson? She has been doing some work for Cassadine Inc, and in the last month has made herself invaluable."
Nikolas offers his hand politely to Carly, but the smile he gives her doesn't reach his eyes. "Hello."
Carly smiles brightly as she shakes his hand, her eyes narrowing when she notices the suspicion in his eyes. "Hi, Nikolas, it's nice to finally meet you. I'm going to leave you two alone, I'm sure you have a lot to catch up on. Nikolas, I'm sure I'll be seeing more of you." Carly walks up to Stefan and gives him a peck on the cheek while she runs a proprietary hand down his chest. "I'll talk to you later?"
Stefan nods affirmatively. "We have much to discuss."
After Carly's gone.
Stefan pours himself a drink and offers one to Nikolas. "It is good to have you home, even if it is for a brief visit. I gather your term went well? You excelled in all your classes?"
"Of course," Nikolas replies. "But I'm much more interested in hearing about this latest 'liaison' you have with Carly Benson. What in the world were you thinking getting involved with her?"
"I am thinking your question does not deserve an answer," Stefan answers with an even tone, then changes the subject. "So tell me, how did you keep yourself busy when you weren't studying?"
"There wasn't a lot of time for socializing, but what free time I had I spent with friends..." Nikolas takes the drink Stefan offers. "But I really don't want to talk about that now, not when there's a more pressing issue. I know you want me to drop this, but I can't. I'm worried about this relationship you have with Carly. She's a disaster waiting to happen, Father. Are you aware of what she's done?"
Stefan eyes Nikolas with a mixture of annoyance and amusement. "Are you questioning my knowledge? Come, you can't be serious. Have I ever been uninformed, especially about a Spencer?"
"So you know she's not really a Spencer then and you know what she's capable of," Nikolas surmises. "Carly's an operator, Father. Jason Morgan ended up in jail because of her, and that's just what she does to the people she cares about."
"Jason Morgan ended up in jail because he is a hoodlum with no regard for the law," Stefan retorts imperiously. "Port Charles is a safer place when he's incarcerated. Have you forgotten he almost got you killed? "
Nikolas shakes his head. "Of course I haven't forgotten. But that doesn't change what Carly is. You know, one of the people I caught up with in Europe was Robin Scorpio. She told me some of the stuff Carly pulled when she was still with Jason." He takes a sip of his drink as he turns to face Stefan. "She's a one woman hurricane. She chews people up and spits them out. Look what she did to Bobbie, and Bobbie's one of the strongest people I know."
Stefan scowls. "And I thought you knew better than to listen to gossips. You and I have both been victims of the malicious busybodies of Port Charles who have spread unfounded rumors about us." He shakes his head. "You are too intelligent to base your opinion of someone's true nature on such rumors. Do your research before you jump to conclusions, Nikolas. And don't rely on just one source, especially a biased one."
"And you shouldn't ignore the truth," Nikolas persists undaunted by Stefan's scathing tone. "If she hasn't already, Carly is going to try to take advantage of you... take you for whatever she can get.. money, position, power. You know she's using you to get custody of Michael, don't you?"
"And you think I'm some addled-brain fool who is an easy target? You give me too little credit; I am perfectly capable of protecting myself from women who might take advantage of me." Stefan crosses his arms disapprovingly. "Furthermore, I resent this invasion into my private life. You have made assumptions regarding my friendship with Ms Benson that you have no business making. You have no idea what the true nature of my business with her."
"I know what I just saw, and what all of Port Charles is saying. They all can't be wrong," Nikolas retorts. "You had her living here with you, for God's sake! It doesn't get any clearer than that."
"And it is no one else's business but mine and Caroline's," Stefan says icily. "Last time I looked, I was old enough to make decisions for myself. I find it exceedingly offensive to be grilled in this manner about my private life. In find it ironic that not long ago we had this conversation in reverse."
"And I didn't listen, and your assessment turned out to be an accurate one," Nikolas points out. "I'm just trying to do the same for you. This relationship you have with Carly Benson is a disaster waiting to happen."
"I love you, Nikolas, more than anyone on this earth, but I will not tolerate being censored by you."
"I don't mean to offend you," Nikolas pleads. "If you want to have a dozen women living here in your own personal harem, it wouldn't matter to me. But this relationship with Carly has me worried. Ever since my mother ended her relationship with you, you've been different. I worry that you're lonely, and that Carly is preying on that."
"Enough," Stefan declares, his voice rising as he loses his temper. "I will not discuss Caroline Benson any further with you. Is that clear?"
Nikolas blanches. "I'm sorry."
Taking Nikolas' face in his hands and staring into his son's eyes, Stefan face softens. "Let us begin again, hmmmm? Welcome home, Son. I want to enjoy your brief visit, not quarrel over things we will not agree on."
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