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The Prodigal Daughter-Chapter 1 "Well, well, the prodigal daughter has returned," Ned said noticing the new comer standing at the bar. "What are you talking about, Ashton?" Jax inquired handing Ned the file he had been reading. "Over there, at the bar. That’s Keesha Ward. I had no idea that she was coming back to Port Charles, ever," he took the file from Jax. "Why wouldn’t she come back here. This was her home, right?" he said trying to remember her. Yes, she was at his almost wedding to Brenda, but there were so many things about that day that he would rather not remember. "Well, for starters, she and Junior are not on the best of terms. It seems that he told her that they were no longer together long after he had wed his blushing bride Carly," Ned informed him leaning forward with a smirk. Smiling, Jax said, "So, AJ again acts with bad judgment as his guide." He was referring to the way AJ had basically led ELQ into his and Ned’s hands. "Why don’t you invite her over? It will save you from staring at her," he joked. Shaking his head, "I just want to see the two of them meet up. Believe me, I’ve been on that woman’s bad side, and it can be downright scary. Imagine how she would treat him. You know the woman scorned and all that." "Oh, so she doesn’t like you," he said smiling. "She must have some good taste, although she did fall for AJ." Standing up, Ned said, "I think I will invite her to join us. Perhaps she has some ideas for our next project." Reaching her he said, "Well, Ms. Ward, it is indeed a pleasure to see you again." Turning around, she put on her best fake smile, "Ned, oh how I have missed you." Wincing at the sarcasm, he smiled, "Are you meeting someone?" She shook her head, "Why? I don’t think anyone knows that I’m in town, so I am going to eat alone." "No, that will not do. I could not have you eating alone. Would you care to join me? My business partner said that I should extend the invitation to you, so you don’t have to be wary of any hidden agendas." She looked over at the table where Ned had been sitting. The gentleman seated there looked very familiar. "Exactly who is this business partner? I could swear that I have seen him someplace before." "Yes, that is Jax; he was going to marry Brenda, remember?" "Yes," she nodded. "I remember." She looked back at him. "All right, I will join you. But, there are certain topics that are off limits to you. Care to guess what they are?" "I’m sure I know," he said as she walked over to his table. There was something definitely different about her. Well, two years and a couple of deaths would do that to a person. Besides, perhaps maybe it wasn’t her mannerism and personality changes that struck him, perhaps it was how different she looked. He hair was straight now and her clothing made her looked older. Maybe she was ‘all grown up’ now. Why couldn’t his cousin do the same? "She has agreed to join us," Ned said pulling out the chair for her as Jax looked up from the menu. They had been so caught up in business that they had not even ordered yet. Wow, he thought. Who was this woman? Surely he could not have seen her before. He would have remembered. But, of course, he was so caught up with Brenda during that time that he would not have noticed anyone else. But, surely he could not forget her. "Hello," he said continuing to stare at her. She smiled as she reached to pick up a menu. Yes, this was the distinguished Mr. Jacks that Brenda always gushed about, along with any other woman, for that matter. Well, she had to admit, he was charming, and those blue eyes… Her thoughts were broken by Ned’s words. "So, Keesha, what brings you back to Port Charles?" Finally looking away from Jax, she turned to face Ned. "Well, I figured it would be a good idea for me to be here. There is to be an ELQ board meeting soon, right?" "Yes, there is. Do you miss them, want to sit in on one of them for old times sake?" Nodding, she replied, "As a stockholder, I am interested in my investment." "You own stock in ELQ?" Jax asked with a smile finally looking away at her to glance over at Ned. "You own stock in ELQ?!" Ned repeated the question incredulously. Turning to face Jax, she smiled sweetly. "Yes, I am a ELQ stockholder. My cousin Justus signed over his shares to me. A smart business move on his part." "And how do you figure it was such a smart business move on his part?" Ned inquired as he thought of the potential problems a meeting between her and AJ would entail. Turning back to face him, she said, "Come on, Ned. I know what type of business Justus has found himself in. I’m not stupid. Besides, I know how to keep my private and personal lives separate. I believe that is what you were alluding to, right?" He smiled this time. Maybe she was sharper than he had first thought. Perhaps this could be used to their advantage. He looked over at Jax and saw that he was having the same thought as well. However smitten Jax might be with their lunch companion, he would never allow a business deal pass him up. "So, you can see that I can work quite efficiently with all the members of the ELQ board. I don’t let past actions influence my own." "I believe her," Jax said simply. "I do too. I hope you can live up to your words. We wouldn’t want anything to hurt this company, especially personal feelings," he said casting a knowing glance at Jax. She noticed the silent exchange of the two men. They were up to something, and that something wasn’t going to be good for somebody. Maybe they had something big in plan for AJ. She knew from past stories from Edward that Jax was a corporate raider which is why he did not like him, even from when he first came to Port Charles. She smiled at him now, and of course he returned the smile readily. Were they planning to use her to get to AJ? She couldn’t say that she would mind being used that much. "So, what are you up to?" she asked still perusing her menu. Smiling, Ned said, "What do you mean? We aren’t up to anything." "Okay, but you don’t expect me to believe that, now do you," she said putting her menu down and smiling back at Ned. "All right, you don’t have to tell me exactly what you’re planning unless you want my help. I assume you do want my help right, or you wouldn’t have invited me to come sit with you. What do you want me to do?" "She’s a quick study," Jax said smiling. "So, I see. Yes, Keesha I was planning to ask for your assistance on something, AJ." "How would I be able to help you with anything concerning AJ. I don’t think I have any influence whatsoever with him. He did break-up with me, you know, and I haven’t heard from him since I left Port Charles." "You may think that you don’t have any influence over Junior, but you would be wrong there. You may just be the ticket that we need to make sure ELQ doesn’t completely sink. Are you planning to have a real hands-on roll in the company." She shrugged, "As much as you’ll allow me. I don’t have much else to do." Ned looked over at Jax and smiled. Everything would work perfectly. Keesha seemed more than willing to help them out. "Well, I believe that we will let you. I think that you could become a vital asset to this company." After lunch, Ned received a call. "Emergency at the office. I’ll talk to you both later. Jax, be sure to get all the information we need." "Don’t I always. Well, Ms. Ward, is there anyplace that you need to be?" "No, not really. I figured I would just wander aimlessly around town for a few days before I found a real job," she joked. "Hey, who says it couldn’t work?" He laughed, "Usually that’s not the way it works, but whatever makes you happy." She laughed now, too. "Does seem kind of odd, doesn’t it? Well, I’ve been doing things the right way long enough, and it really hasn’t gotten my anywhere. So, I’ll try things the other way for a while, I suppose." "That’s the way things should be done in the first place. So, would you be willing to help Ned and me in our venture?" "Oh, so that is how it works. Are you supposed to talk me into helping you?" she asked leaning back in the chair and crossing her arms across her chest. "I told you that I would, but you only have to tell me what’s going on. I can keep a secret." "I’ll bet that you can. It’s simple, Ned wants ELQ back, and I, along with all of the other shareholders, want him to have it back. I don’t like when my investments are in the hands of idiots, and AJ knows very little about running a company." She nodded thoughtfully. "He could have learned a lot about business if only he would have taken the time to learn rather than want. Whatever it is, I will help with. I have an interest in the well-being of the company as well. I don’t have a job, remember. When and what will I have to do?" Jax smiled. He was going to enjoy working with her; he could tell she was a shrewd business-person already. "Well, we won’t really be able to do anything until AJ returns to town. It seems that he left town on a little sabbatical." "Really," she said. "One can only hope that he returns differently than he left." She extended her hand for Jax to shake. "I think that I’m going to enjoy doing this." Shaking her hand, he said, "Well, let’s hope so, because if you don’t, then we’re not doing it right." ![]() Chapter 2![]() Index![]() ![]() |