Chapter 7
A few hours later, Stefan knocks on Carly's door. Carly, having finally calmed down after her blowup earlier, opens the door and steps aside to let him in. Tossing her head back, she glares at him defiantly. "Don't expect me to apologize, Stefan. I won't."
Stefan merely raises an eyebrow, opting to stay outside the door. "I merely came to inform you that I will be off the island this afternoon and I have left a project for you downstairs."
"You're going into town? You didn't mention anything earlier."
"If you remember, I didn't have an opportunity to inform you about much of anything earlier." Stefan bites his tongue to keep himself from scolding her further, but instead says after an awkward pause, "I will see you at dinner."
"Stefan, wait!" Biting her lip, Carly's curiosity gets the better of her. "What is this project you left for me downstairs? Where are you going?"
"My whereabouts this afternoon are none of your concern. The project is self-explanatory. But suffice it to say, I am confident you can apply yourself without my supervision."
A short while later, when Carly is certain Stefan has left, she creeps downstairs to investigate the project. What she finds on the table is a file folder, obviously meant for her. After only a moment's hesitation, she opens the folder to find a piece of fine stationary on top of the pile, obviously written in Stefan's bold hand.
Caroline,
My groundskeeper, Jerrico, insists the patio off
of the south wing is in sore need of refurbishing.
Since his services are required elsewhere, I would
like you to assess what needs to be replaced and
provide me with a list of suggestions along with an
estimate of the cost. I have included a collection of
brochures and price lists that Jerrico has provided,
but don't feel limited by them. I look forward to
seeing your progress when I return.
Stefan
Stifling a squeal, Carly kisses the note. "Yes! Just the opportunity I wanted!" Gathering up the folder, she leaves the living room on a mission for the south patio.
Sonny Corinthos paces an empty interview room at the Port Charles Police Department. Dressed in blue jail garb and sporting the beginnings of a beard, he looks a little wild. He has deep rings around his eyes, a sure sign of many sleepless nights.
He runs his hand through his short hair in agitation, wondering who possibly could have called him so unceremoniously from his cell. The detectives have long ago ceased to interrogate him, or so he thought before today. He can't complain though, any chance to get out of that torture chamber of a cell was welcome, even if it meant going another round with his nemesis Taggert.
A moment later, the door opens and an unfamiliar officer escorts Stefan Cassadine in, then with a nod from Stefan, leaves the two of them alone. Sonny looks at him warily. "You went to a lot of trouble to see me. Anyone know you're here?"
Stefan motions for them to sit down. "Mr Corinthos, I believe it best if we dispense with any unnecessary conversation. I'm sure you don't wish to be here any longer than I do."
Sonny takes a seat across the table, the smile he gives Stefan not reaching his eyes and his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Au contraire, your visit is the highlight of my day."
Stefan gets right down to business. "I have a one-time offer to make. I will arrange for your present legal difficulties to disappear in exchange for your stock."
Sonny flashes his dimples charmingly, but the humor is absent from his tone. "I take it you aren't interested in my coffee business."
Stefan mouth twitches. "You surmised correctly. What I want is ELQ."
Sonny leans back in his chair and crosses his arms in front of himself, giving the appearance of casual interest. "What makes you think I'd sell the stock to you? It's worth millions. For all you know, I've already cashed it in ... say to Eddie Q." Sonny gives Stefan a piercing stare. "While I'm no fan of the old man, it's safe to say I like him a whole lot better than you, CassaDINE."
"If that were the case you wouldn't still be incarcerated," Stefan replies smoothly. "And while Edward Quartermaines's influence in his small sphere is formidable, he doesn't have the... 'connections' to accomplish what you require."
Sonny shifts in his seat and focuses on an imaginary spot on the table. He hated that Cassadine held all the cards. Fact is, he'd sell his soul to get out of this place. It's only by a sheer act of will he has remained sane as long as he has. "Say I were willing to part with my ELQ stock, what would this deal include?"
"Your present legal difficulties would evaporate and the evidence against you would cease to exist. You would be free to pursue any future you see fit."
"That's quite a promise. What else would you want from me in return for my freedom?" Sonny asks curiously. "My soul? Blood? Isn't that what you want most from your victims?"
The only sign that Stefan is irritated is a slight narrowing of his eyes. "Nothing. Your ELQ stock, half signed over to me before your release, the remaining when all charges have been cleared. I will purchase the stock for a fraction of it's cost to make the exchange appear legitimate, say... three million?" Stefan watches Sonny shrug. "Our arrangement is to remain secret for the time being and you will continue to vote the stocks until such time as I am ready to make my presence known to the Quartermaines. And there is one other small provision."
"Ah, the small but critical provision." Sonny rolls his eyes. "Lay it on me."
"Caroline Benson is off limits to you and your associates. She is my concern from now on."
If Sonny hadn't spent the last 10 days bars, he'd have broken out in peels laughter. Carly with Stefan? Too rich for words. No two deserved each other more. "Hey, no problem. The she-devil is all yours, Stefan. Be careful though, she's got a hell of a bite. Or maybe you like that."
Stefan ignores his barb. "Then I will expect to hear from your lawyer."
"I haven't decided anything yet. But If I were to accept this... exchange, I have one small provision myself."
Stefan's face darkens with annoyance. He is dumbfounded by this hoodlum's audacity under such dire circumstances. "You are not in a position to negotiate, Mr Corinthos."
"The deal doesn't go through without it, Cassadine," Sonny persists. "Jason Morgan is to be cleared along with me."
A small price for what he wants, and a provision he expected. Stefan gives a slight nod. "Understood. You have twenty four hours to decide."
Stefan arrives back in Wyndemere after his meeting with Sonny to find Carly curled up on the couch engrossed in a magazine. Beside her is a notepad full of notes and a stack of more magazines. He pauses before entering, unsettled by his reaction to seeing her. Gone is the usual annoyance at the disruption of his life, to be replaced by an unidentifiable yet pleasant feeling... and an urge to touch her.
She looks up and gives him a brilliant smile, moving her feet off the sofa to make room for him. "Hi."
"Hello," Stefan says, unable to keep himself from smiling back at her. He forces himself to go through the ritual of casually offering her a drink and pouring himself one before joining her on the sofa. "I see you are hard at work on the project I left you."
"Yes, you cannot believe---" Carly starts to gush, but stops herself. "I'm sure you don't want to hear me babble, so how about I wait to discuss this with you until I'm done with my research? Did your meeting go well?"
Stefan's smile crooks with appreciation. "Very nice try, Caroline." When her eyes widen, he shakes his head with mirth. "Your subtle attempt to trap me into giving you information about this afternoon is impressive. I did not mention any meeting. But as I said before, it is none of your concern."
Putting down the magazine on the table, Carly runs her hands through her hair, letting some of the loneliness she feels enter her voice. "I know, but I can't help but be curious. I guess I'm just feeling a little isolated out here with only you for company. I was just hoping for some news from Port Charles."
"Why would you care what happens in Port Charles?" Stefan asks in a harsh tone. "The entire town has used you as their scapegoat for everything that has gone wrong since you arrived in town.... Barbara, Luke, Tony Jones, the Quartermaines to name a few." Seeing the sadness in her eyes, his tone softens. "I can't fathom why you would care what happens to any of them."
"I can't just shut off my feelings." Swiping at the corners of her eyes, Carly bows her head so her hair is a curtain to hide the tears that threaten to fall. "Somewhere along the line this town became my home, and it's not so easy to walk away from. For one thing, my son is still here. And just because Bobbie can't stand the sight of me anymore, doesn't mean I've stopped caring." She gives off a harsh laugh as she blinks back tears she can't seem to stop. "And Lord knows I've earned my reputation. To top it all off, I turned against the best friend I've ever had and now he's in jail because of it."
Stefan brushes the hair away from her face. "Caroline," he demands softly. When she doesn't look at him, he take her chin between his fingers and lifts it so she is forced to look at him. "Look at me."
Ashamed, but having no choice, Carly looks Stefan in the eye. Instead of seeing judgment she sees compassion, and somehow that's worse. The last thing she wants is to let this man see her at her weakest. The irony of that thought strikes her.. hadn't she basically been crying on his shoulder all week?
Her bottom lip trembling as the last of her defenses crumble, Carly tries to turn away but Stefan won't let her. Pulling her into his lap, he rubs her back soothingly. "Caroline, there is no reason to hide from me."
Carly laughs hysterically through her tears. "Like there's anything I could hide from you for long! God, it's like you know what I'm doing before I do. You have no idea how annoying that is."
Hiding a smile, Stefan kisses her temple. "I believe I do."
Using his handkerchief, Carly dabs her face. "I really have to stop doing this, I'm even tired of hearing myself cry." Taking a deep breath, Carly completely changes subject. "Did I tell you how much fun I'm having working on this new project?"
Chapter 8
"Excellent. Once the papers have been drawn up for the transfer of the stock, place the money in an escrow account pending final arrangements." Carly appears at Stefan's doorway and he waves her in. "Contact me when all is complete." He rings off and motions her to a seat across from his desk. "You said at breakfast you have something to show me?"
"I'm finished with my research on the patio project." Carly hands it over quickly.
Stefan glances at Carly a moment before taking out his glasses and sitting behind his desk. Opening the file, he goes through each piece in careful detail. The silence starts to get to Carly, and she rises from her chair and paces, fiddling with her hands and looking at Stefan often to try and gauge his response. But nothing in Stefan's demeanor gives her an inkling of whether he likes what he sees or not.
Finally he sits back and closes the folder, handing it back to her. "You have authorization to make the changes." Next he hands her an envelope. "Your expense account. You are responsible to me for every penny you spend. Use it wisely."
Carly is stunned. "That's it? You have nothing else to say?"
Stefan raises an eyebrow. "If I had a problem with any of your choices, I would tell you. Now, I'd like to finish our discussion on how to use your afternoon study time. I believe I have come upon something that will be of use to you." Noting that Carly is still standing up flabbergasted, he motions her to the chair. "Sit down, please."
Carly obediently drops into the chair. "Am I going to like your idea?"
"I believe you'll find it advantageous." Stefan says as steeples his hands.
Carly screws up her face. "I'm going to hate this."
"I propose to tutor you in business," Stefan answers, undeterred by her lack of enthusiasm. "If you apply yourself, it will serve you well in whatever you decide to do with your life."
"Ugh, I knew it, I already hate it." Blowing her hair off her forehead, Carly sighs heavily. "I'm telling you, Stefan, I don't have the patience. I'll drive us both crazy in less that ten minutes."
"Have I lost patience with you during your Tai Chi lessons?"
"No... I can't explain it, but it's different. It isn't traditional learning. It's.... movement."
"And business very much about movement.. just another kind. What you will find, is the Tai Chi philosophy applies to everything in your life, not just one small part." Taking off his glasses, Stefan adds, "And, if you give your best effort to learning business, I am prepared to hire a tutor in interior design."
Carly's mouth goes dry. She hadn't expected it. "You would? Why?"
"Because I believe on capitalizing on talent. And your talent obviously lies in interior design, among other things." Stefan smiles secretly. "And I have a strong sense you also have a natural affinity for business. All we have to do is unearth it."
A week later.
Carly is curled up in an overstuffed chair In Stefan's office while he is working on his computer at his desk. Carly is absorbed in a file she has in her lap, her brow knitted in concentration. The silence was comfortable as both focused on their work.
This had become a ritual for them.. Stefan working at the desk while Carly was curled up in a nearby chair. Stefan had tried to get her to sit at a table or a desk, but had finally capitulated when he realized she was less fidgety and flighty when she wasn't forced into sitting behind a table. And as soon as he had, he was rewarded with a more attentive and enjoyable pupil.
A few days ago, Stefan had given her an assignment that had peaked her interest. She was to study his file on Deception Cosmetics and find any weakness, however small. The idea of finding a weakness in Katherine Bell's company was too delicious for Carly to resist. Even in her free time, Carly spent time going over the file.
Tired of looking at the same numbers in the same reports, Carly puts the file down and closes her eyes. She wasn't getting anywhere. What the heck did Stefan mean by weakness, anyway? Her books balanced, nothing illegal was going on. The companies she had contracts with had excellent reputations.
"Problem?" Stefan asks, glancing up briefly from his laptop.
"I've looked at these same figures for three days. Nothing, I mean nothing stands out."
Stefan leans back and takes off his glasses. "Then you need to look deeper. Or look beyond the figures. Look to variables that we might be able to capitalize on.".
"There aren't any!" Carly tosses the file onto the table in exasperation, getting up from the chair and going over to the window to gaze out on the lawn.
Stefan rises from his desk, crosses the room and picks up the file. "Ridiculous. There are always variables to be taken advantage of. Unless Deception produces everything they market from raw materials, AND they own exclusive rights to all those raw materials, And they provide their own distribution, there are opportunities to be harvested." Coming up behind her, he offers her the file again. "Unless you believe Katherine Bell is more intelligent than you are?"
"No, of course not." Carly scowls, snatching the file back. "Do you?"
Stefan moves a step closer so his breath is warm and intimate on her neck. "No, there is no contest." Placing his hands on her shoulders, he adds. "But my opinion is of little consequence if you give up."
"I'm not giving up," Carly retorts stubbornly, "I'm just taking a break."
"We have been working for some time now, a break would do us both good." Feeling a knot of tension in her shoulders, Stefan begins to rub it out with the pads of his thumbs. Carly's head lolls forward in response to his ministrations, her eyes closing.
Encouraged, Stefan expands the massage, starting with rubbing her upper neck, then allowing his hands to travel down her back, along her spine.
"Put the folder down, Caroline," Stefan urges quietly as pulls her hair aside to kiss the base of her skull. While men have obviously kissed her there and it had been arousing, Stefan somehow takes it to a new level, robbing her of the ability to breath, move, or think like a rational human being. With exquisite slowness, his lips graze the sensitive skin on the back of her neck again and again, while his hands rest on her waist.
Her brain is muddled and it takes effort to process his request, even more to comply with it. Carly fumbles with the file until Stefan takes if from her, putting it on the table by the window. His hands return to her waist, using the excuse of massaging her lower back to maintain the contact.
"What are you doing to me?" Carly complains weakly, putting her hands over his and finding her body molding against him of it's own accord. She knows this is lethal, she has to stop it before it goes too far. For her own pride if nothing else, she can't let him seduce her and make a fool of her again.
Stefan lays his cheek against hers, nuzzling her ear. "Enjoying how you feel... my hands can't seem to get enough of you..." As he says the last words, Stefan's hands move across her stomach to brush the undersides of her breasts.
Despite the fact that her whole body screaming for his touch, Carly finds the strength to grab his hands. "No."
Stefan mouth hovers over her ear, his breathing labored. "No??"
"I can't do this again," Carly insists in a stronger voice, removing his hands from her. Her whole body aching with frustration, she steps away from him.
"What are you talking about?" Stefan demands, his voice low and dangerous. If Carly weren't so absorbed in keeping herself from throwing herself at him, she might have noticed the fury in his eyes.
"I can't stand another one of your damn lessons." Running her hand through her hair, Carly takes a deep ragged breath. "Don't kiss me again, not as a flipping lesson, not as a flipping test. The only way I want you to kiss me is as a man to a woman, because you want me." Realizing how desperate she sounds, Carly covers her mouth and takes flight.
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