The Best Laid Plans, Chapter 81
 
 

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Alex Garcia is on the edge of the room. He’s watching them apply the makeup to Keesha. For this photo shoot, they have decided on an Egyptian theme. Keesha has been outfitted with several outfits from the finest designers who have all seemed to swirl around an Egyptian theme. Keesha is outfitted in a bronze form fitting Azzadine Alia. Her hair  has been braided in tiny cornrows and  has almost been made into a crown. They have spent the last hour shooting her posing on her toes with her back arched. Every groove and curve is accentuated on her. She simply glows. Having finished with those poses, they have her sitting on top of a throne, looking as regal as possible.

“ She’s quite beautiful, don’t you think?”

Garcia is startled to have Katherine standing there.

” Uh, yes. I was just...”

” Watching Keesha?” She says with a smile.

” I had come to talk to Ms. Ward about her security, but, they seem to be running over.”

” Photoshoots do that. But, they seem to be finished. Come on, Alex.”

Garcia and Katherine walk over to Keesha.

“ So, boss, how did I do?”

“ I think I’m the wrong one to ask. Alex was over there being the fan.”

” You were?”

” Not really. I just didn’t want to disturb you. From where I was, the shots were dynamite.”

” Well, dynamite or not, my arches are killing me. I know I shouldn’t complain.”

“ You’re not complaining. You were doing your job. No harm in that.”

” No, I guess not.”

” So, Keesha, are you ready?”

“ Katherine, I really don’t know. I don’t know if I can pull this off.”

” Well, you have a series of interviews that you will be doing in the upcoming week. Both print and television. There are certain points about the line that you will have to get out. Here is as detailed a description of what I want you to get across to the reporters. I want this publicity campaign to be a success. More than just a success. I want it to be an event to remember. This line will put both of us on the map, Keesha. I would have brought Deception to an entirely different level. And, you, are going to be a household name.”

”I wouldn’t go that far.”

” Well, I would. You will be as noticeable as Naomi Campbell or Tyra Banks. Quite frankly, I think your personal story, not of a routinely shallow model, but, one of the ordinary gal who lands a modeling contract, will be irresistible to the press.”

“ And, the more press, the more times Deception is heard in the news.”

” Exactly. Now, you’re getting the picture. Well, I have a phone call that I must make. I will be having breakfast with the both of you tomorrow morning at the PC Grille, am I right?”

” Absolutely.” Keesha says.

” Certainly, Ms. Bell.” Garcia replies.

” Alex. I’m Katherine, and don’t you forget it.

Katherine leaves. Keesha turns to Alex. “ Are you sure that I am doing OK?” Keesha asks with a vulnerability and self-doubt that Alex found intriguing.

“ How can you ask? You look wonderful, and you are putting everything into it. I can see it. And, I just know that it will come across in the pictures. Of course, what I know about fashion photography, you can fit in a thimble. But, I know beautiful women, of which you most definitely qualify.”

Keesha blushed and retorted, “ And just how many beautiful women have you been studying?”

It was Alex’s turn to blush. “ Not that many, but, the ones I have had experience with, have all been of exceptional quality.”

“ So, you are a believer in the concept of quality, not quantity.”

” Most definitely. Those men who have quality as their main objective, will never get any quality. When you’re too rushed, you miss those diamonds in the rough.”

” I never thought of myself as that rough. I thought I was a jewel.”

“ Oh, you are. But, the real jewels are those that you have to search for and find. Those jewels that just sit there and glitter, well, anyone can find those.”

Keesha looks away from Alex. A harmless flirtation has been getting close to the edge. They just stand there in silence when..

“ Keesha, hi. I thought you would be ready to go.” It was AJ.

“ AJ.” Keesha gets up and goes over to him and hugs him.

“ You two seemed deep in conversation.”

” Actually, we weren’t. I was just going over some details with Keesha. You two enjoy your evening. Garcia walked away, only turning briefly to see Keesha embracing AJ.

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Sasha and Mai are on her plane.

“ You’ve been very quiet Sasha. Ever since Gunter’s visit.”

” I know. His visit unsettled me. But, I am focused now. Or, I will be, after I see Tia.”

” Well, I have not wanted to tell you this, but...”

“ Tell me Mai.”

” The project with Katherine Bell is accelerating faster than we had initially thought.”

“ When you say accelerated?”

” I mean, that it will be a matter of days that it takes affect.”

” Well, even if it happens when I’m away, the only person that Katherine Bell could get to help her would have been Edward Quartermaine..”

” And, he is preoccupied with those phony China deals you arranged.”

“ Exactly.”

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Jax is on his private jet. He makes a call.

“ Hi Mum.”

“ Jax. How are you darling?”

“ Fine.”

” You don’t sound fine.” Jane knew from a talk with Jerry that Jax was having troubles with his new love. She also knew that Jerry told her not to press Jax on it. “ Jasper, is there anything that I can do?”

” No, Mum. I just called to tell you that I was going to be incommunicado for a bit. But, don’t worry about me.”

” Sorry, I always will. Where are you going?”

” Malibu.”

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Jason came to see Carly. He gives her a piece of paper.

“ His birth certificate. Michael Robert Morgan. That looks beautiful Jase.”

” Well, it was easy. I just told them the name, and they did it right up. I talked to the doctors. They say that you can come home.  Both of you.”

” When?”

“ Tomorrow.”

“ Wow. You think I can do it.”

“ Sure. We can take care of the ki....Michael.”

” Yes, Michael.”

“ Well, I gotta go. Got some business. But, I’ll be back later for his feeding.”

Jason leaves. Carly looks through the baby catalogs that the nurse gave her.

“ You slut. How could you name my child after a gangster?”, Tony yells upon his entrance.

” You get out, you jerk.”

” You had no right naming my child.”

” MY Child, Tony. You’re not the father. Jason is.”

“ Well, we’ll see about it. I hope you’re enjoying these moments. Because, once this child is proven to be mine, I am going to make sure that you never see him again.”

Tony leaves and Carly is nervous.

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“ Nikolas, are all the preparations ready for Barbara’s return?”, Stefan asks upon entering the Conservatory.

“ Yes. Lucas and I have been decorating.” Nikolas makes a gesture and motions to the WELCOME HOME sign that he and Lucas had hand-painted. Stefan also noted the balloons. “ Mrs. Lansbury spoke with the doctor and dietitian. She knows exactly the kinds of foods that Bobbie can eat. And, we’ve prepared her favorites.”

“ Lucas?”

” He’s jumping for joy. We went to the toy store yesterday, and he bought several toys for the baby, and we bought something nice for Bobbie.”

” The workmen say that they have finished the lift.”

” Yeah, they were doing the final tests on it this morning. The staff has moved all of Bobbie’s things back into the bedroom. “

“ I know. I instructed them to move my clothes into a guest bedroom. Where is Katya? I have not seen her this morning.”

” Sasha left on a trip last night. She told me to tell Bobbie that she’s glad she’s fine.”

“ Well, I suppose I will be going. When I return, Barbara will be with me.”

” I’ll rally the troops.”

Stefan leaves.

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Katherine Bell is sitting at her desk when some gentlemen come in. Her secretary is running in after them.

“ Ms. Bell, I’m sorry, they just walked right past me.”

“ Katherine Bell?”

“ Yes. Who the hell are you?”

” We’re from the Auckland Credit Corporation.”

“ I’ve never heard of you.”

” But, you will.”

” What is your point.”

” To inform you that this company and everything that you own is being seized.”

” Seized? For what?”

” For non-payment of bad loans. Consider yourself served, Ms. Bell. You have 2 hours to vacate the premises.” They drop an envelope on Katherine’s desk and leave.

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Johnny took the last of Carly’s things out of her room. Carly was standing at the window. Jason goes over to her.

“ Carly, what’s wrong?”

” After you left, Tony came to see me.”

” What did Dr. Jones want?”

“ Oh, to tell me that once the paternity test comes back, he’s going to take my child. Jason, I thought you were going to take care of the paternity test?”

” I was. But, he snuck up on me and got the blood before I could stop him. Carly, don’t worry, Dr. Jones won’t take the baby..”

” But, Jason, the courts.”

” Won’t be a problem. Let’s go get Michael and take him home.”

Jason puts his arm around Carly and they go to get Michael.
 

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“ Are you ready to go home, Barbara?”

” I am ready to return to Wyndemere, Stefan. My home is at the Brownstone.”

There was a moment of silence between them.

” Fine. You must leave in a wheelchair.”

Bobbie gets in the wheelchair and they leave.

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Carly is holding Michael in her arms while Jason is pushing the wheelchair. They turn the corner to  see Tony standing there. Rinaldo make a move towards Tony, but, Jason halts him.

“ Well, if is isn’t everyone’s favorite crime family.”