Alexis is sitting in the Conservatory when Sasha comes in.

" Hello, Cousin."

" Sasha. You look like the cat who just swallowed the canary."

" Well, not a canary. Just a Mob Boss."

" Pardon?"

" Here." Sasha hands Alexis some papers.

" What are these?"

" These are the papers that give me ownership of Sonny Corinthos' shares of ELQ."

" Sonny Corinthos just sold you his shares in ELQ? Do I dare ask how you maneuvered it?"

" No, I don't think you should. Suffice it to say, that I have want I need from Mr. Corinthos. His stock and his silence."

" Silence?"

" Yes. He is to vote my proxy, however way that he was supposed to. And keep quiet about the selling of the stock to one Penelope, Inc."

" You know that American law says that you must show yourself in 6 months time."

" That's enough time."

" Enough time for what?"

" Oh, come on, Alexis. You can't possibly be THAT naive. Or, is in this case, Ignorance bliss?"

" I thought that we were just going after ELQ Jakarta?"

" Alexis, dear, Papa brought me into this. What does that tell you?"

" Oh, Good grief. We're going after ELQ itself."

" Of course we are."

" And this is what you want to do?"

" Yes. I completely agree with Papa. Not only is it a fitting act of revenge, but it makes absolutely brilliant business sense."

" What do you plan to do with it, once you have acquired it?"

" Well, since I alternate between keeping companies and stripping them, this turn falls into the stripping category."

" You've done a good job, getting into the door. But, Sonny Corinthos only owns a certain percentage of the company. What are your plans?"

" My plans will make themselves shown in due time, Alexis. And since I know how much you dislike knowing the grizzly underbelly of what I do, I think it's best to leave things be. It will be on a need to know basis. And be rest assured, none of it will ever taint you."

" Thank you for small miracles, Sasha. So, have you thought further about Nikolas?"

" Yes. And the plan for getting Nikolas out of Katherine Bell's apartment is formulated in my mind, and quite frankly, I think, twisted and ingenious."

" Your modesty is overwhelming. When you succeed in getting Nikolas away from the Bell woman, then I will raise a glass of champagne to you. "

" I'm going to hold you to that Alexis. But, I have found a fringe benefit in London."

" And that is...."

" I met Justus Ward. Handsome fellow. Intelligent. Charming."

" A Quartermaine."

" As is his cousin. But, that doesn't stop you from feeling something towards Mr. Ashton."

" Ned and I are just friends. We've gone to dinner a few times."

" Alexis, please. Don't mock me. Woman to woman, I know the signs."

" Oh,you, in all your infinite wisdom, know the signs."

" Yes. And it's no crime, in you liking Ned Ashton a great deal."

" And Justus? What is he?"

" To me, now. Nothing. Just a means to an end. He is an unexpected bonus in this game. And another weapon to use against the Quartermaines."

" I don't think of Ned as a weapon."

" I know you don't. That's why you will be kept out of the loop as much as possible. So, that you won't have to lie to Mr. Ashton. But...."

" But, you and Stefan always get your way.Thus, that means that the Quartermaines will be losing ELQ."

" Exactly, cousin."

" Well, if you excuse me, I have to prepare for a date."

" With Mr. Ashton?"

" Yes."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bobbie and Alicia are meeting at the Port Charles Hotel.

" Well, Bobbie. We haven't talked since your trip."

" I know, Alicia. I am sorry, but you know about the plane crash and all."

" Yes. A side note, Bobbie. If you need some legal help with the plane crash, I can recommend someone."

" That won't be necessary. How is the case going?"

" Actually, we have our first hearing in a couple of weeks. I think that I am very well prepared. And I think that your husband is going to be VERY surprised. "

" God, I hope so. Stefan can be so unbearable, it's ridiculous. Well, I promised Lucas that I would get home early, so that we could go rollerblading. I'll see you, Alicia."

" Bobbie. I'll talk to you soon."

Bobbie begins to get up and becomes a little wobbly.

" BOBBIE! Are you alright?"

" Yes. I just have been under the weather lately. Stress and all."

" Well, it's not like your life is stress-free."

(laughs) " Ain't that the truth. I think I'll call in sick and take a free day."

" You should do that. Are you sure that I can't get you anything?"

" Positive. I'll be getting out of your hair. Bye."

" Bye."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Setting: Windermere. Sasha and Nikolas, in matching Black Satin outfits, are praciting their Tai-Chi (no more blue jogging suit). Nikolas is having difficulty practicing. His friendship with Emily,  has grown more intense, but Nikolas senses that her feelings for him go beyond friendship. He doesn’t want to hurt Emily. Sasha notices Nikolas’ lack of concentration.

“ NIKO. What’s wrong? What’s taken away your concentration?”

“  I’ve been thinking about some things.”

“ What things?”

“  Male/female relations.”

“ Why Niko. Do you have a secret crush?”

“ ME? No. There is a friend, a girl. But I think that she likes me more than a friend. What do I do? ”

“  Niko. There’s absolutely NOTHING you can do about it. “

“  How can you be so sure?”

“ Nikolas, there are two kinds of men in the world:
1. The kind that have to win women’s hearts
2. The kind who have the women’s hearts given to them on a silver platter.
You, my dear, Niko, are in the latter group. “

“  I don’t understand.”

“  I’m a woman. Let me just spill it out for you. Plain and simple. You have it all: you’re handsome, rich, and possess a wonderful heart. Plus, you have a little of that brooding,James Dean aloofishness that, when coupled with the rest, makes you irresistable. You are going to leave a string of broken hearts along the way. It is not going to be avoidable. “

“ Isn’t there anything I can do? “

“  No, nothing, but stay the same. Because in your category, it can be divided even further:
1. The man who gets a woman’s heart because she can’t help but give it to him. By his very nature, she wants to give it to him.
2. The man who gets a woman’s heart because he demands no less than all of it. He fiercely goes after it like a heat seeking missile. Papa and Jerry are part of this group.
Please stay part of the first group. “

“  Jerry came after you? “

“  Yes. I passed the only Psychology class that I had to take at Harvard. I realize now, that I was just marrying Papa. But I overlooked something. Even in Papa and Jerry’s group, the division went further. Between those men that are immoral, and amoral. Papa is immoral....but Jerry was amoral, which is why I barely escaped with what passes for my soul intact. And that’s all I want to say about my marriage. I was fortunate that Papa understood my predicament and allowed me to exit the marriage. Have I helped you any? “

“ Yes. As always. (kissing her)  I have missed you so much. I’ve missed our talks. Please don’t go away. “

“  I won’t Niko. I will stay as long as you need me to. “

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ned is right there as Alexis rings the doorbell to the gatehouse.

" Hello, Counselor."

" CEO."

" Won't you come in?"

" Thank you."

" May I take your coat?"

" Among other things?"

" The night is young."

Alexis and Ned get settled into the gatehouse. Ned has had a romantic candelight dinner for two prepared. And they sit down and eat.

" So, tell me, Mr. Ashton. What are your expectations for this evening?"

" I have no expectations, except for to enjoy your wonderful company."

" Oh, really?"

" Truly."

They have a good dinner, with excellent conversation. And then they begin to play scrabble.

Ned: Feather

Alexis: Bed

Ned: Door

Alexis: Closed

Ned: Cuffs

Alexis: Sadism

Ned: Masochism

Alexis: Orgasmic

Ned: Climax

Alexis: Mutual

Ned: Duel

Alexis: Love

Ned: Set

Alexis: Match

At this point, Alexis plants one on Ned's lips like he's only thought of in his dreams. They continue to go hot and heavy when the telephone rings.

" Ned, let the machine take it.."

" Alexis.."

" Ned, we're off duty."

" I know. But, I have to take it." Ned goes to the phone. " Ned Ashton. Uh-huh. I see. I'll be right there." Ned hangs up the phone. " I'm sorry, but I have no choice. We'll do this some other time." Ned hurries out the door, leaving a disappointed Alexis.