GH2017.47 Fortress Of My Heart

The warehouse: on one side is the pier where the caddy and the limo are
parked. On the other, the revitalized part of the waterfront where
storefronts and shops are beginning to open: Cari and Lu are inside the
cavernous building . . . there is trash strewn around the floor. The
windows are filthy and some are broken or cracked. As Lu speaks, the
condensation of her breath causes a vapor cloud to appear
Lu: Lucky is right about one thing . . . it is cold in here.
Cari: I don't see it, Lu; I really don't. Maybe I should just get an
apartment for me and Dad.
Lu: Oh ye of little faith. Close your eyes and picture this-- you are
walking down a short hallway to a circular, glass-bricked enclosure. Inside
is an elevator. The enclosure is lit by indirect lighting but also from the
domed skylight that surrounds the elevator at the roof.
Cari: What is on the roof?
Lu: Hmmm, lets see a garden space, maybe a greenhouse for growing fresh
herbs. A place to relax, have a summer picnic overlooking the water . . .
toasting to Daddy and mom over on Spoon island that can be seen in the
distance across the water.
Cari: How about a pool?
Lu: Don't know. I need to check the stresses. Maybe a fountain so that the
sound of running water can be heard in the garden space and there is a place
to get your feet wet. But if there is a greenhouse, there could very easily
be a... sauna. ( She writes a note to herself in the notebook)
Cari: What about the apartments? (She opens her eyes beginning now to see
the possibilities)
Lu: Four Apartments built around the circular elevator shaft
Cari: ( grinning and beginning to laugh) A curved Door . . . that is crazy.
Lu: (Beginning to talk with her hands) NO, it is unusual. More glass brick
will light the individual floors. As you open the door you go into a long
open floor plan. Unbroken space to the inside is the kitchen. On the
outside, the living area is bounded by an expanse of windows that extend the
length of the apartment.
Cari: (stomping her feet trying to get warm) The heat-- tell me about the heat.
Lu: The best part. All the heat runs through the floors. No waking up in
the morning and stepping down onto an icy floor. Instead step onto the
smooth, polished texture of golden oak. Swedish finish, hardwood floor warm
from the hot water pipes running beneath it. No heat going out the windows
and if it is going to rise it has a long way to go.
Cari: These windows are a disaster.
Lu: Not my department. Cassadine Enterprises owns a glass company. Daddy
will be taking care of it. The only condition I put on was the windows
could be opened from the inside.
Cari: What about the kitchen?
Lu: Not my department either. I don't really cook. You do. You are
going to design all four kitchens.
Cari: Now I know you are as LULU as Lucky says you are. I don't know a
thing about designing a kitchen. Cooking is something that Mom and I do
together for fun; we just happen to be good at it.
Lu: But I am sure you have been in kitchens that didn't work for you . . .
where the light sucked, or the counters were at the wrong height, or there
was not enough outlets or storage . . .
Cari: Okay I see where you are going with this, but Lu- FOUR?!
Lu: One basic design-- only the accessories will be different.
Cari: Let me guess, Brooke will do the baths?
Lu: (Grinning) I'll have her drooling to design them. You heard her at the
pizza party; she comes from a family of five girls. The idea of her own
bath will be too tempting . . . she has probably been fantasizing about this
for years. Where are Daddy and Lucky? They have been outside forever. I
hope they aren't killing each other.
Cari: (Curiosity piqued) Lucky does seem to enjoy twisting his tail. But
there wasn't any real hostility in it.
Lu: Now. That could change at any time.

Outside the warehouse Stefan and Lucky are talking about the potential
problem; both men have grim faces. Together they look out over the water to
Spoon Island. Their thoughts are on the same loved ones; even as they don't
make eye contact.
Lucky: Nothing like pissing the whole world off at ya all at one time.
So, there is really no clue where it's going to come from?
Stefan: ( hands clasped behind him) No. And there are multiple targets,
not only the Cassadine but also the Quartermaines. Nikolas is coordinating
with Jason Morgan. Your mother knows everything or has figured out most of
it. Leslie Lu and Staci have no idea yet. I'm going to get Leslie Lu to
move back to the island until this is over.
Lucky: It is never over; you and I both know it. Lu will fight you on
this. You won't do anything that might make her hate you; she knows that.
Stefan: (looking at him intently) I don't bluff, Spencer. She WILL be safe.
Lucky: Then what is all this? (Waving toward the building behind them.)
Some kind of pap to make the pill less bitter?
Stefan: No one knows Carida's relationship to the family. Your mother
pointed out she is safer away from us.
Lucky: (quickly understanding) But within sight.
Stefan: Correct. I'll be "helping" Lu get this 'taj Mahal', as she calls
it, completed as soon as possible. With modifications of course.
Lucky: Surveillance?
Stefan: (Nodding briefly) And security, including (looking at the building
and then shaking his head) about a ton of bullet proof glass. Eventually I
think your sister plans on living here. The apartment is not as convenient
as she would like, but she wants her independence.
Lucky: (Snorting) or at least to feel like she is independent.
Stefan: This building will be hers. Everything in it will belong to her.
Nothing to do with the purchase or renovation will have the Cassadine name
on it. This will be my angel's fortress against all challengers- but not
now. When this is all over. (Both men turn as they hear a voice call out
to them from the warehouse)

Lu : ( Standing in the open door way) Daddy, Lucky, I think you have had
enough male bonding. Come on, check this out! ( She returns to Cari
allowing the door to slam behind her.) Something is going on. I almost
wish I was living on the island . . . 'cause someone has a secret.
Cari: What does living on the island have to do with anything?
Lu: Nothing stays a secret there for long. There are too many secret
corridors and hidey holes where you can hear everything.
Cari: Sounds sneaky.
Lu: It's self preservation. Here they come finally, so shush. They don't
need to know we are on to them. Daddy, what do you think?
Stefan: (stepping fastidiously around trash on the floor ) You'll have to
have round the clock crews just to get the place clean.
Lucky: It's not that bad really, as long as this place has been vacant. I
am surprised that there aren't street people living here already. (He
kneels down by the door that opens to the revitalized side of the building.
) Well, well what have we here?
Cari: (looking at the same brownish red spot on the wall) What is it? Paint?
Lucky: No. ( He rises) I think you need to get some decent locks on these
doors, babe. First thing. No use in planning on remodeling if thieves can
walk by and haul off your supplies.
Lu: Daddy is right. In order to get this place done, the work is going to
have to go round the clock. So many of the systems I have planned are for
the whole building. The priority has to be Jerry and Cari's apartment. I
don't even know what order things need to be done in. (Starting to feel
overwhelmed) This is a mess.
Stefan: (Reassuringly, as he pulling out his cell phone.) First things
first! A cleaning crew, security and someone to measure those windows. I
think . . . I should have the windows in within 2-3 days.
Lu: Remember, you have to be able to open them!
Stefan: Yes, yes but only from the inside. Don't you have to measure
something? ( He waves them off as he makes his necessary calls.)
Lucky: What did the inspector say about this place, Lu?
Lu: ( taking a deep breath) Solid as a rock. Probably able to stand a bomb
blast. Reinforced for earthquakes AND flooding.
Lucky: Damn, It is ugly though.
Lu: Neglected. I can fix that.
Cari: (Growing more excited) It is going to be beautiful.
Lucky: (laughing) She's got you converted already, Kid. Lu, I guess you do
have some of Gramma Leslie's fix it gene. You just want to do buildings
instead of people. Am I going to have to get another manager for the club?
Lu: No. This will keep me busy, true-- but I may decide I hate it after I
get done.
Lucky: Somehow I don't think so. What you were saying to Stefan, sounds as
if you need a contractor . . . someone that knows who and what. Did you
have someone in mind?
Cari: ( in the lengthening silence) Lucas Jones said he knows someone.
Lucky: Any contractor you get is going to want to see plans . . . Hell, the
city is going to want to see plans. The windows and locks are a no brainer.
Whoever bought this would have replaced them immediately. Sounds to me as
if you have three days to come up with your next step.
Lu: (musing) There is a student over at the design school of the
university. I saw some of his stuff at a student showing. He is going to
win awards someday. He lives on campus; one of my friends is in the same
building.
Cari: So plans, contractor and then whatever the next step is?
Lucky: Measurements first-- so you can take them to the boy genius. ( Lu
starts going through her seemingly bottomless purse until she comes up with
the tape measure)
Lu: Cari, you take down the measurements as Lucky and I call them out.
You know Lucky, most of the info is in the purchase papers.
Lucky: If it's yours babe, you have to know every inch . . . so quit
yapping and hold this. ( He hands her one end of the tape and starts moving
across the building.)

A few hours later, Nik and Brooke show up at the warehouse having come
straight from the airport. There is a slight tension between them. Lu,
Lucky and Cari have progressed from the measurements to helping the clean up
crew . . . while Stefan is consulting with the security and supervising the
installation of a portable generator. Stefan sees them first.
Stefan: Brooke! Nik! When did you get in?
Brooke: Just a bit ago. We came straight from the airport. Laura gave us
the directions. (Brooke starts spinning around slowly in the warehouse she
had toured before but had not seen since its purchase)
Nik: (looking around) What a dump.
Stefan: ( starting to laugh) That is exactly what Lucky said. Don't let
your sister hear you or you will be in his shoes as well. (They both look
over to Lucky who has paused his sweeping to pull a sliver from the web of
his hand.)
Brooke: Thank you for the portrait. It is beautiful and Gram loves it.
(She embraces Stefan) I think it was the hit of the party. That and Dylan
showing up in time for the last dance. (She shakes a finger at him) You are
so bad. Do we have an agreement now?
Stefan: (faking bewilderment) What was that agreement? (Brooke groans and
slaps her hand against her forehead before focusing her gaze on Stefan)
Brooke: (enunciating clearly) You. Promised. To. Butt. Out.
Stefan: Ah yes, that agreement. I swear I will not interfere in your love
life . . . unless you invite me.
Brooke: (laughing and shaking her head) Don't hold your breath. I need to
talk to my roommie. I'll leave you and Nik to talk.
Stefan: (watching as Brooke moves away) She appears in high spirits, not
talking to you however?
Nik: She is going on tour in a few weeks. She and her mother are
intractable about postponing. She refused to listen to reason on the plane
back to Port Charles. They don't appear to see the gravity of the situation!
Stefan: Perhaps going on tour is best. The timing as well as your current
estrangement is fortuitous . Being visibly connected to the Cassadine at
this point may prove . . . dangerous.
Nik: Her father is an ELQ board member; she is already involved.
Stefan: But you would have her be a focal target that would hurt both families?
Nik: (considering, his eyes narrowing) Like Gina or Stone.
Stefan: Yes. This project has become a priority. Carida's affiliation to
the family is an unknown. Her mother preferred it that way for just this
reason. This "dump" is within minutes of our security force. Within
seventy-two hours, it will be bulletproof. Stone will be out on the island
I suspect. Alexis and Tom may not prove as . . . reasonable. How do you
think Gina will react?
Nik: (laughing shortly without humor) She will find it unnecessary; we are
after all--divorced.
Stefan: Except for that tabloid photograph taken outside my last show.
(Nik winces) Mrs. Lansbury cut it out so that she could look at it more
easily. She had difficulty seeing the Cassadine pendant around Gina's
throat but anyone with correctable vision would not. No shipments have been
cut off from those. . .'animals' yet. According to Jerry, the next shipment
is due in three weeks. After that all hell may break loose.