“ What did you say?”

“ I said that Carly Roberts is my biological daughter, Caroline Bensen.”

“ Your daughter is dead.”

“ No, LUKE said my daughter was dead. But, she is very much alive.”

“ Who told you this? Carly? She could be lying.”

” Yes, she told me. But, Luke and Stefan confirmed it.”

“ Stefan knows?”

“ Yes.”

“ Carly is your daughter....My God. Everything makes sense now. Why she latched onto you. Then, why she went after me. My God, it was a trap from the very beginning.”

” Tony?”

Tony is off in his own little world. He walks away from Bobbie, muttering, “ It was a trap from the very beginning.”

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

Keesha enters Justus’ office at ELQ to find Justus and Katherine there.

“ Justus. I’m sorry. You’re in a meeting. I’ll come back later.”

” No, Keesha, please don’t go. I was the one who asked Justus to get you to come.”, Katherine said.

“ YOU? Why, Katherine?”

” Because, I have a business proposition for you.”

” I think you should listen Keesha.”

All three of them sit down at the table in Justus’ office. Katherine hands Keesha a prospectus. The cover says “ STAR “ cosmetics.

” Keesha, Deception is beginning a line of cosmetics specifically designed for women of color. We have everything ready: lines, stores, an advertising campaign all mocked up. What we don’t have, is a spokesperson.”

“ I see. And, what does this have to do with me?”

” Well, I was going over some old photos of the Nurses Balls, for a PR file on the new opening of the Stone Cates Memorial Wing at the hospital, and, I was struck by you. I mean, I’ve looked at over a hundred photos of models, but none of them approached the depth that I saw in you, in these photos. That’s when it came to me.”

” What Katherine?”

” That YOU would be the perfect person for this campaign.”

” Me? A spokesperson? Sorry, Katherine. But, I am hardly a model.”

” I know. That’s why you’re perfect. The woman of color in this country has a very difficult time connecting with even your model of color that they use. They all seem to be a certain shade, or have false hair or eyes, or face. Not you. You are beautiful, earthy, yet glamorous when you want to be. You aren’t stick thin, but healthy and vibrant. You’re real Keesha. Someone that they can relate to. You aren’t some 15 year old child, without a brain. You are a college graduate who is doing something with her life.”

“ Which is exactly the reason that I can’t be your spokesperson. I have a life.”

” Keesha. I don’t believe that it is an exaggeration when I say that I think this is a great opportunity for you.”

” Katherine, I am not about to disrupt my life, for what could be a passing fancy. To spend my day, in front of a camera. What is worthwhile about that?”

” True, it won’t help find the cure for cancer, but, what I am proposing. The line for women of color. Specifically for them, with the same kind of push and advertising that you see in mainstream magazines. Your face won’t only be in Essence, Ebony, Black Enterprise...it will be in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE. It will be the talk of the fashion industry. And if it is as successful as I think it will be...”

” Then?”

” Then, I would like to seriously consider you for the face of Deception.”

” For the entire company?”

” Yes.”

“ That’s even more work.”

“ So, you’re saying that you’ll take the job?”

” I said no such thing. If I did, what would be the terms?”

” Well, there would be heavy initial push of appearances. I would need you for two months straight. City after city, TV interview after interview. Following that, I would have you working a total of three months total for the rest of the year. That would break down to you working 10 days a month for me.”

” And, the compensation?”

“ Well, with everything, stocks, signing bonus and salary, we are looking at $1.5 million for you. This is all subject to negotiation.”

” A million and a half dollars?”

“ Yes.”

” Katherine, I have to think about this. I will discuss it with Justus and get back to you.”

” Fine. All I wanted was the chance to make the pitch. Here’s my home phone and cell phone numbers. Anytime, day or night. Please call. Bye Keesha. Justus.”

Katherine leaves. Keesha turns to Justus:

” Is she for real?”

” Very for real, L’il Bit.”

” Justus, out of the blue, a woman I don’t really care for, offers me over a million dollars , for what could barely be considered work. And, only working half the year, at that.”

“ Yes. You have accurately assessed the situation.”

“ What do you think I should do?”

” Whatever makes you happy.”

” That’s such a copout.”

” True. Keesha, what bothers you?”

“ I don’t know...wait, I do know. I think that I’ve been faithful to what I’ve grown up with so far. Would I be the same person, if I started doing something so superficial and without meaning? It would be the antithesis of everything that I know. I watch AJ and his family. And, even though I love AJ dearly, I have serious problems with the Quartermaines.”

” ‘The Quartermaines?’ Have you forgotten that I’m one?”

“ No, Justus. That’s one thing that I can’t forget. Or, how you used to be. How you used to stand for something. Once upon a time, your friends used to be Luke and Laura Spencer. Now, they’re Katherine Bell and Anastasia Cassadine. May I say that I think you’ve traded down.”

“ Ouch. I guess you may. But, what gives you the right to sit in judgment of me, Keesha? Because you knew me once upon a time. Goals change. Lives Change. Purposes change. Are you afraid to challenge yourself? Or, are you afraid that you aren’t quite as pristine as you believe yourself to be?”

“ Just because I don’t approve of your complete sellout of everything we were taught by birth, doesn’t make me pristine.”

” Fine. We’ve had this discussion. My life changed. You know why. Keesha, I can’t turn back. I have to live with what I did, and accept the changes that it made in me. It doesn’t mean that I have forgotten Granny Mae, or what she taught us. But, one moment in time, one action, forever altered my life.” Justus gets serious. “ Keesha, please know that I need you, and your love in my life. But, baby, that Justus is as dead as Jason Quartermaine. I put myself on a pedestal. And, the fall was hard, when I realized that I was just human. Now, I am slowly finding meaning for my life.”

” Here. At ELQ?”

“ Yes. I enjoy the game, Keesha. The combat with Ned. The manipulations. The bloodsport. It may not be nice. But, it’s honest. As for Katherine and Sasha. Katherine is a friend.”

“ And Sasha?”

“ I admit. I want Sasha to be more than a friend.”

“ She’s a shark, Justus.”

“ Keesha..”

” No. Take it from me Justus, that woman is going to stomp all over your heart.”

” I’m not exactly fresh off the farm, Keesha.”

” But, you aren’t her type, Justus.”

” And what type is that?”

” She’s a shark.”

“ And, I’m a guppy?”

” Maybe not. But, she’s a better shark than you’ll ever be. I don’t know why you don’t have someone like..”

” Simone? Dara?”

” YES. Simone. Dara.”

” You know why things broke off with  Simone. I couldn’t marry her after things changed. And Dara...”

” Well...”

” It was the wrong relationship. We just weren’t right for one another. Besides, she seems to be enjoying Jax just fine. Keesha, I have to live my life.”

” I know that. Just don’t expect me to blindly go along with it, like everything’s OK.”

” I won’t.”

“ You think this modeling is a good idea, don’t you?”

” Yes. I think, even if you only do it for a year, you’ll have a nice nest egg. You can do whatever you want with the money after taxes.”

” Well, I’ll think about it. I guess I should discuss things with Mother, Daddy and AJ. I’ll see you later. Bye.” Keesha comes over and gives Justus as kiss.

” Bye, Keesha.”

When Keesha leaves, Justus calls Wyndemere to inquire about Sasha. He had received the call from the florist notifying him that his daily arrangement of flowers to Sasha were returned, because she was no longer at the hospital. When he had called Wyndemere, he was told that she was out of town. Justus wondered where Sasha could be.

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

Bobbie was resting when she felt someone’s presence in the room. She opened her eyes to see..

“ Sasha?”

“ Hi Bobbie.”

“ I thought you had left town.”

” I had. When I heard that you were in the hospital, I came back. How’s the baby?”

” Fine. For now.”

” I didn’t tell Papa about the baby Bobbie.”

” I know. It was random.”

” Were you fighting with him when you got sick?”

“ No. With Luke.”

” I see.”

“ Sasha, thank you for honoring my wishes about the baby.”

” You’re welcome. Papa called off the divorce, didn’t he?”

“ Of course he did. He wants me to come back to Wyndemere.”

” Are you?”

” I don’t think I have much of a choice. I need around the clock attention. And, I can get that on Spoon Island.”

“ What are your chances for carrying to term?”

” The odds are against me. But, I am going to do anything and everything to get this baby here.”

“ I’ll do whatever I can to help, Bobbie.”

“ Well, Lucas needs help in adjusting back to the island.”

“ Consider it done.”

” Was your trip worth it?”

” Yes. I needed to take it.”

“ It must have been something very special for you to leave like that.”

“ I just needed a break, that’s all.”

“ Of course.”

” Well, I’m going to go back to Wyndemere. I am sure Papa will be here soon. Bye, Bobbie.”

“ Bye, Sasha.” As Sasha left, Bobbie wondered what could be so important to leave the hospital.

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

Rinaldo opened the door to Carly, who was sitting on the couch.

” Carly, a Dr. Jones is here to see you.”

“ Fine. Let him in.”

Tony comes in, completely enraged.

” So. Were you ever going to tell me about the little incest thing we had going on?”

“ Bobbie told you?”

” Yes. That you’re her daughter. You little slut.”

“ Excuse me?”

” You came into town. No, actually, slithered into town. You honed in on Bobbie. And, when you hadn’t hurt her enough, you decided to go and seduce me.”

“ Seduce you? Excuse me, but you were definitely a willing participant in all of this.”

” No. I was preyed upon by you and your vices.”

“ Oh, give me a small break. You WANTED out of your marriage to Bobbie. You were looking for any excuse possible. “

“ No. I had some semblance of a life, before you came into it.”

” What?  You were sleepwalking through life. I gave you purpose.”

” You ruined my life. And now, you want to take my baby.”

” MY BABY!! My child, Tony. And, you are not going to take this baby away from me.”

“ Oh, yes, I will. I will take my child away from you. And, once I do, you will never see the baby again. So, you enjoy this time, Carly. Enjoy this bonding, because it’s the last you’re going to do.”  Tony began to walk towards Carly. Carly had never seen the depth of hatred that she saw in Tony’s eyes. She was scared. She called out, “ JASON! JASON!”

Jason and Johnny came running down the stairs, guns drawn, yet Rinaldo was already in the room.

“Carly?”

“ Make him leave. I don’t want him in here ever again.”

Rinaldo took Tony by the arm and led him out.

“ Him and his guns won’t keep me from getting my child, Carly. I promise you that.”

Jason follows Tony out into the hallway. He goes to the elevator and pushes the button. Standing there, he leans into Tony and whispers, “ You ever come near Carly again, I will correct the situation.”

“ I’m not afraid of you.”

” Then you’re stupid on top of pathetic.” The elevator comes. “ Rinaldo, escort Dr. Jones down to his car.

Jason goes into the Penthouse after Tony and Rinaldo leave, and finds Carly shaking as she is pouring herself a glass of water.

“ Carly, it’s OK. He won’t bother you anymore.”

” Jason. You didn’t see the look in his eyes. If this baby is his...”

” He won’t get near it. I promised you that no one would take the baby. And, I meant it. Now, come on. You have a doctor’s appointment.”

” I forgot.”

“ So, come on. We have to take care of the runt.”

” Runt?” Carly rubs her tummy. “ Did you hear Uncle Jason call you a runt? You tell him you’re not a runt.”

Carly and Jason leave for the hospital.

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

Sasha was on her way out of the hospital when she bumped into  Justus.

” Mr. Ward.”

“ Ms. Cassadine. I thought you were out of town?”

” I was. Now, I am back.”

” So I see.”

” I didn’t get a chance to thank you. For everything. The flowers, and all the assistance that you gave me at the accident site. I was told that if it weren’t for you, I would most likely not be alive right now.”

“ I didn’t know it was you. I was just helping.”

“ Well, I can’t help but be happy that you came along. I would like to thank you more, in depth.”

“ Well, I look forward to your thank you.”

“ Goodbye,  Justus. I’ll call you soon.”

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

Luke was standing outside of Bobbie’s room when Carly comes by.

“ So, sweet Caroline, what are you doing here?”

“ I have a doctor’s appointment. Why are you lurking around here?”

“ You don’t know?”

” Know what, Luke? “

“ Bobbie’s in the hospital.”

“ Why?”

“ You really care, Caroline?”

” Whatever, Luke. So, are you going to tell me, or not?”

” Bobbie’s in here, because of her baby.”

“ Baby? So, you’ve decided to mess with me Luke. Bobbie can’t have any kids.”

“ Well, surprise. Modern miracles do happen. Bobbie is pregnant. “

“ No fooling?”

“ No kidding. This kid of yours is going to older than his aunt/uncle.”

“ What’s wrong with her?”

“ Oh, nothing really. Bobbie insists on carrying a kid that could kill her. On top of that, it’s the spawn of the devil. I can’t believe that she’s going to have Stefan’s baby.”

“ You know what, Luke? I can’t believe you. Bobbie is in here, in the hospital, pregnant. And, what’s your beef? Not that she’s preggers, but, that the baby is Stefan’s? Sorry to disillusion you Luke. But Bobbie has the right to be pregnant BY ANY MAN SHE WANTS! Even Stefan Cassadine. Why don’t you just leave her alone?”

Before Luke could say anything, Carly was walking away.