CHAPTER NINE: BLOODLUST Once Nikolas, Alexis and Stone are all in the limo, Nik glares at Alexis.
"What the hell did Baldwin want?"
"I don't know, he didn't say anything I found interesting."
Stone pipes up, "Mom, who was that guy?"
"No one you need to worry about," Nik assures him.
Stone rolls his eyes and sighs audibly, "I hate when you tell me that."
Alexis turns to her son. "Nikolas is right, Stone."
"Even AR's grandmother says the same thing," Stone says.
"Bobbie?" Alexis questions as she turns to Nik.
"They have a history," he answers.
Alexis rolls her eyes, "Does he have a 'history' with every woman in Port
Charles?"
Nik pretends to think, "Let's see, Bobbie, Lucy Collins," Nik frowns
immensely as he growls, "my mother."
Before Nik can list off anyone else, Alexis interrupts, "Forget I asked."
Nik gets an idea, "Alexis, would you mind keeping an eye on him?"
"Excuse me?"
"I want to know why he's still in Port Charles. I don't trust him."
Alexis is confused, but doesn't argue, "All right." She thinks briefly about
the implications. "How do you suggest I explain that?"
Nik shrugs, "I don't care, but I'm sure you'll come up with something
brilliant. You always do."
******
Scott is sitting in the park, waiting for someone. A tall, muscular, blonde
man walks casually by, then turns to look at Scott. He walks back and
stands in front of him. "Well well, if it isn't Scotty Baldwin."
Scott looks up at him and smiles, "Derek? How are you?"
The men shake hands warmly as Derek sits down. Scott glances around
while asking, "What have you found out?"
"I still hate Cassadine. He fired me for no reason. No one does that and
gets away with it."
"You made him nervous, Derek. Hell, you're making me nervous now.
Relax a little."
Derek glares at Scott, "That's easy for you to say. I want him to pay for
this."
"He will, trust me."
"I found his weakness. His daughter."
Scott shakes his head vehemently, "No. You will not touch his daughter,
sister or mother. Find another way."
"Scott, are you crazy? Go with the given commodity, man!"
"You heard me Derek, leave Laura, her daughter and granddaughter out of
this."
Derek stands up, "This is all about Laura for you , isn't it?"
Scott stares at him while standing, "My reasons are not your concern."
Derek stalks off, "Damn you, Scott Baldwin."
Another figure walks silently out from behind the bushes and crosses
casually in front of Scott. Scott glances absently at him, then walks off in
the other direction.
******
Stefan is sitting at his computer when Alexis walks in. He doesn't like
what he's reading and it shows. Alexis sits across from him, but he doesn't
notice her. She folds her hands patiently and stares at him.
Stefan's eyes widen and his frown deepens as he continues to stare at the
screen. He absently reaches for his cell phone to make a call.
Alexis clears her throat loudly. Stefan looks up and closes his phone.
"That was fast," he says, "How long before the deal is complete?"
Alexis stares at him, "Hello to you too, Cousin."
Remembering his manners, Stefan adds, "Forgive me. Hello Alexis."
Alexis reaches down and lifts her briefcase onto the table with her good
arm. "Now, as for that other matter. Twelve independent communication
companies have been set up that have bought a total of 45% of the stock.
Cassadine Enterprises itself owns 4%. Now we just need an outside buyer
to persuade Gates to sell off 2%."
Stefan thinks for a second, "Why an outside buyer? Can any of the other
companies be traced back to the Cassadine?"
Alexis shakes her head, "Of course not. These companies have
international paper trails that lead everywhere but us. Some of them even
lead back to IBM, Gateway and Disney."
Stefan smiles in appreciation, "Very good, Alexis. I knew if anyone could
do it, you could."
Alexis nods, "Thanks. And as for the buyer, you could do it yourself, I
suppose, if it wasn't for the international problems it would bring up."
Stefan glances at the screen again and nods. "I could make him sell, but
you bring up a valid point." Stefan sighs as he realizes that he can watch
and direct from the sidelines, but the actual deal must be handled by
someone else. An idea strikes him. He smiles conspiratorily at Alexis.
"By the end of the week, you and Nikolas will be trustees for Anastacia.
She will own Microsoft and I can end this ridiculous Internet affair once
and for all."
"What? Me, trustee? Staci owning Microsoft? Internet affair? Where did
all of this come from?"
Stefan sighs, "Lesley Lu has decided the Internet is a good place to meet
men. She's mistaken. I could make Lesley Lu the owner, but my wife
would probably have something to say about that."
"Lu is too smart for that. She'd figure out what you were up to in a
heartbeat. You'd let her do whatever she wanted. All she has to do is look
at up at you with those sad brown eyes and you melt." Alexis sits back,
"But isn't ramroding controlling interest in Microsoft overkill?"
Stefan smiles, "Maybe. But I will do whatever it takes to keep her out of
harm's way. It is amazing how a little blood letting gets the juices flowing.
It's been too long; I'm enjoying this."
Alexis nods, "Probably a little too much, Cousin."
******
