Alexis sat in the Quartermain mansion wondering why she had agreed to this. Ned, he was the reason she was here. Ned, her trusted friend, her faithful companion ... she had never been more tempted to strangle someone in her life.
There he sat smug and condescending, lording his power over AJ and his grandfather, not to mention the rest of the family. This was supposed to be an ELQ business meeting but Ned was turning it into his own private revenge, and Sonny hadn't even arrived yet.
Sonny, he would be arriving any minute and Alexis was nervous as hell. She hadn't seen him since that night when she was out with Jax. She had been avoiding him on purpose and part of her was mad at Ned for asking her to be here this evening. Ned was planning to kick Sonny out of ELQ, Alexis was there to allow no legal loop holes. Well, actually she was there to look over the contracts Ned was arranging as part of his plan. From what he had told her his plan involved some huge deal with a California based company that would double ELQ's worth.
"Hey there beautiful."
"Jax," a friendly face at last. "How are you doing? How is Brenda?"
"Alive."
"Yah, I heard. I meant how are you and Brenda?"
"It's complicated. So what's up with Ned, he looks like the cat that swallowed a whole flock of canaries?"
"Do canaries come in flocks?" Alexis asked sceptically.
"Ah, still the master of avoidance. How about an easy question, how is my godchild doing?"
"She's fine." Alexis told him, resting a protective hand on her stomach.
"So it's a girl this week?"
"Shut up."
"Can I get you something to drink?"
"Maybe a little ginger ale."
"Not feeling well?" He asked concerned.
"Nerves."
"Sonny, or is Ned planning something really outrageous?"
"Both."
"Have you seen him since that night?"
"Can we talk about something else?"
"Are you aware that you just answered a question with a question?"
"Are you aware that you did the same thing?"
"Uncle. I give up, you are also the master of the never ending cycle of questions." He laughed. "Oh look, Darth Vader just entered the room, no wait, it's just Sonny."
"Jax be nice." She admonished half-heartedly.
"Are you kidding me?"
"Well, then at least be quiet."
"Yes, Mom."
"All right," Ned interrupted their banter. "Since everyone has now arrived," he said, glaring at Sonny, "we can begin the meeting."
Jax stood up, ignoring Ned's speech and poured a ginger ale for Alexis, then came back to sit beside her on the sofa.
"Thank you," she smiled taking the drink.
"Anytime."
"If we are all ready now, perhaps we could get down to business?" Ned asked glaring at the two of them, clearly not amused by their flirting. Ned was not the only one annoyed by their sudden affection. Sonny was using all his restraint not to knock Jax to the other end of the room. Of course his anger was only because he had always hated Jax and had nothing to do with the fact that he wished he were the one sitting next to Alexis. At least that's what he told himself.
"I thought you had some mystery person coming here tonight?" Edward interrupted him.
"All in good time Grandfather." Ned replied smiling.
"Oh for God sakes Ned quit it with the power trip, some of us are on call so can we move this along? Monica asked causing Alexis to smile. Ned suddenly looked like a little boy being reprimanded by his mommy. He quickly recovered and shot a look at her before continuing.
"I have arranged a deal for ELQ that will change the entire profile of the company. Before I get into that, I'd like to point out that this deal will make ELQ a major player on the world scene..."
Alexis rolled her eyes and tried to concentrate on happy thoughts. The thought of her Little One, the first time she would hold her. She would have to start getting the nursery painted soon, she was thinking a cheerful yellow would be nice and maybe dark wood for the crib...
"Alexis?" Jax nudged her gently obviously trying not to smile. Everyone in the room was looking at her expectantly.
"Edward was just asking about the legal ramifications of the partial merger?" Jax repeated the question gently pretending she hadn't been completely zoned out.
"Oh right, well from what Ned has told me I don't see any problems providing issues of control are clearly defined. I will need to examine the contracts though."
"Good recovery," Jax whispered laughing. She thought she could see Sonny smiling too but she looked away before she could tell for sure.
Thankfully the conversation soon moved away from her and she was free to go back to daydreaming. While she mentally redecorated the nursery, she tried to ignore the fact that Sonny was openly staring at her. Jax, it seemed also noticed, and he casually put his arm around Alexis' shoulder. Since she wasn't about to cause a scene in the middle of the meeting, she allowed him to leave it there, making a mental note to give him hell sometime in the near future.
Several minutes later and after several more deadly glares from both Ned and Sonny aimed at Jax, Reginald entered the room to announce that one of Ned's guests had arrived.
An instant later a man entered the room and Alexis, on instinct, stood to face him. Everyone in the room saw the man's eyes fly to her with both recognition and shock. Alexis also appeared to be in shock but it was she who spoke first.
"Mason?"