The Best Laid Plans-Chapter 46
 
 

Mai was sitting on a couch, in front of a roaring fireplace, staring into the fire, underneath a huge comforter. She was stroking a picture frame, containing a picture of her and Sasha. The were both younger. In fact, the picture had been taken about a month after they met. She put the picture down on the table besides the couch, and curled up into a ball. As she stared into the fire, her mind wandered back...

[[[[FLASHBACK, 12 years ago.]]]]

Mai and her family lived in substandard housing in rural China. They had no heat, no running water. Her father, who was a construction foreman for the state, had just died 18 months previous, leaving Mai, her mother, and fraternal twins just shy of their first birthday. Because of their father's death, they were left destitute. Her Mother, who was weakened by a very difficult pregnancy, was in no shape to work. But, she did, thus worsening her health. Mai did what she could  to help her mother with the children. She stayed home and took care of them, and worked the small plot of land, as best she could. But, since they could not afford the best seedlings and equipment, the soil gradually depleted, and the crops became less and less until they were non-existant.

Mai's mother was an excellent cook. And, they were fortunate that their town was one of the rural outposts for the Red Army, who were able to pay, on a consistent basis, for her bakery treats, and for her to come in on special occasions, on top of her basic job as a cleaner on the base. The soldiers ran roughshod over the area, for they had the guns and the force. There were two bases for them, a main one, which was 20 miles away, and then a small post, right near Mai's home. Only those soldiers who were being punished, were assigned to it. It was understood that Mai's mother, and the others, would give them free food and other amenities, and in return, they wouldn't destroy the town. So, Mai would go, once a week, and take her Mother's offering to them. Mai was sheltered, and young. But, her body didn't agree with her age, and she was almost as developed then, as she is now. The soldiers had taken a liking to her. But, she would go, do her business, and then be gone.

Since the Government had decided to try some private industry joint ventures, and Stefan was there to determine if Cassadine Inc. would finance a factory in China. Of course, he brought Sasha along with him. As Stefan met with the Government Ministers and their representatives, Sasha was bored. She left the sight, and began walking. The Chinese driver assigned to her, followed her in the car. They went driving on the countryside, and then the car got a flat tire. As the driver labored to change the tire, Sasha got out. She was walking along when she heard a scream. She ran in the direction of the screams. When she opened the door, she saw Mai on a table, her clothes torn, screaming out in agony. There was a soldier on top of her, bearing down on her. Mai was the first to spot Sasha. In her eyes, was terror, pure terror. The soldier quickly turned around and pulled his gun from on the other table. He pointed it at Sasha, and barked at her, in Chinese, to leave. Sasha backed out of the room, and closed the door. Mai remembers,  for what seemed like an eternity , the soldier, pawing at her, groping, kissing her almost like bites. As he drew down his pants, she closed her eyes, only wanting for it to be over with. He ripped off her underwear and prepared her for his entrance. The tears were streaming down her face as she stopped screaming and had resigned herself to her fate.

Then his movement stopped. After a few moments, she opened her eyes, and saw him lying on top of her, his eyes wide open. She didn't know how quickly it took her to realize that he wasn't breathing. But, she could feel something pouring on her lower body. She put her hand down there, and when it came back red, she knew it was blood. Using what strength she had left , she threw his body off of her and was about to scream when she saw a hand cover her mouth. It was Sasha, standing there, with a  Military Knife in her hand. Where Mai was a bundle of nerves, Sasha's eyes were cold and determined. Mai followed Sasha's lead. They dragged the soldier's body into a closet. Used extra uniforms to wipe up the blood, and Sasha had Mai change into a soldier's shirt. Mai wasn't terrified for some odd reason. She went outside with the stranger. As she spoke to her in a foreign tongue, Mai knew that the girl was going to leave. And that, if she left, Mai and her entire family would most likely be massacred by the Army in retaliation. She and Sasha went back home, and Mai gathered her Mother,  brother and sister. By the time they exited Mai's house, the driver had found them. They all bundled into the car, and Sasha gave the instructions for them to go back to the port some 100 miles away, where the Cassadine Yacht was anchored. When they got to the docks, Sasha instructed the driver to take Mai and her family down below. They were placed in the storage hole of the yacht. Sasha swore the driver to secrecy with a very hefty 'bonus'. When Stefan arrived in the evening..

" Katya, why are you here?"

" I wasn't feeling well, Papa."

" Are you alright?"

" No. I don't like this place, Papa. May we leave?"

" Katya, I believe that I might consider this venture if I stay for a few days."

" Papa, please. I miss Niko. I want to go back to the Island. Is this really that important? I feel myself getting weaker all the time."

" If you are so ill, maybe we should fly to Hong Kong and go to a doctor."

" No. If I am going to see a Doctor, it will be Dr. Spiros on the Island. But, I would like to go, now."

" Well, this trip did not go as well as planned. Negotiations would be fierce, long, and tedious. You are correct, this project is not that important. We'll lift anchor within the hour."

" Thank you, Papa."

They did indeed set sail within the hour, and when they were several hours out, in international waters, Sasha went to see Stefan in the Salon.

" Hello, Papa."

" Katya, I thought you were resting."

" I was. But, there is something that I must show you. Please, come with me."
Sasha took Stefan's hand, and led him to the Storage Hold. When she opened it, and he saw Mai and her family,

" Katya, who are these people?"

" They are very nice people. Papa, can't they work for us?"

" Katya, where did they come from?"

" China."

" Anastasia Ekaterina Cassadine, do NOT be coy with me. I want an explanation, and I want one now."

" Papa, I found them in a rural village. Look at them, they look almost starved. When I fainted, they took me in, and tried to feed ME. Can you believe it, they look starving, and they tried to help me. They would have died if left in that village. I knew that on an island the size of ours, that we could find something for them to do."

" Katya, I do not run a charity organization."

" I know that, Papa. And I don't believe that they are charity. They will be workers."

" They?! All I see before me is ONE woman and THREE children. Contrary to popular belief, the Cassadines do not participate in child labor."

" Well, the oldest child, she is around my age. She could become one of my chamber maids. Papa, have I ever asked you for anything on this order?"

" No."

" Then, you must understand how important it is to me. If, after 1 year, they don't work out, you can send them back to China."

" Six months."

" Nine months."

" Agreed. Do they even have the proper exit visas? Passports? Why do I even ask the question, of course not. Well, they can't sleep down here. Take them to the servants quarters, and make sure that they are fed."

Sasha kisses Stefan. " Thank you, Papa. You won't regret this."

" I hope not."

Stefan leaves and Sasha leads Mai and her family to the servants quarters. They are given food and new clothes. For the remainder of the trip, Sasha spent the time with Mai and her family. Even though she understood absolutely no Chinese, and they no Greek, somehow, they were able to communicate. The day before their arrival in Greece, Mai's mother collapsed. After the crew members took her back to her room, Sasha and Stefan spoke in the Salon.

" Katya, I don't need a worker who's already ill."

" She is probably ill, because she has not been taking care of herself, Papa. She has three children. And, if she dies, are you really going to throw those children away?"

" They would not be thrown away, Katya. I know several reputable orphanages

" Well, possibly, the younger children would be adopted, but not the oldest child."

" Why is this of such importance to you?"

" Because, somehow, I was fortunate that you wandered into an orphanage one day. I know that not everyone else is that lucky. And, I don't want to chance any child's future on fate." Sasha lowers her face and speaks softly. " They could easily have been me."

There was silence between them and then Stefan spoke. " We will get her to Dr. Spiros as soon as we arrive on the Island."

Sasha gives Stefan a kiss. " Oh, Thank you, Papa."

Upon their arrival, Mai's mother was taken to the infirmary, where she was diagnosed with malnutrition, dehyration, exhaustion and anemia. The entire family was treated and then placed in the Cassadine servants quarters. Sasha took Mai, and had Mai share the room with her. The part of the room that used to be Marina's side. Mai took up instruction with Sasha's tutors. Sasha taught her Greek and English. It took over 6 months before Mai could say anything that Sasha could understand. Her mother was placed in the kitchen, where her Chinese delicacies and pastries became favorites of the house. The younger children ran amuck with the other servant's children.

Sasha and Mai became inseparable. Wherever Sasha went, Mai would also. When Sasha went to Harvard, Mai also went. She was enrolled in the exclusive Buckingham, Browne and Nichols school. Both of them graduated with Honors, in three years. Upon graduation, Sasha gained full control of her trust funds. One of the first gifts that she did was to relocate Mai's family to Singapore and give them the loans for the restaurant and bakery. She ultimately forgave the loans on Mai's 21st birthday. Sasha and Mai separated that Summer following graduation. Mai went to Singapore to help her Mother set up everything, and Stefan had arranged a graduation trip for Sasha, Nikolas and himself. When Mai left Sasha to go to Singapore, she could not have imagined how much would change. For, it was that summer, that Sasha met Jerry Jacks.