Chapter 2: Thin Line Between Business and Personal
The Beach House
“Lucky, she’s my daughter!” Gia’s voice flared as she listened to her ex-husband over the phone. It was two years since they’ve been divorced. A year and a half since Gia’s seen her daughter. “Yes. I know that,” she mumbled. Gia’ anger was exceeding by the second. Lucky had made it seem like she wanted a divorce. That she wanted to be separated from her daughter. But that was just as fallacious as the lies she’s lived with most of her life. “Fine,” she clenched out. “But sooner or later, Daisy will want to see me. I know it. I know her.” She paused before saying in a softer voice. “And I know you too. You’re not going to keep her away from me.” She affirmed before slamming the receiver down and throwing a book across the room, which headed straight towards Dillon’s nose. Dillon Hornsby ducked as the flying novel came his way. He got up, looked at the book that stood flat on the floor, and then back at Gia. “Don’t tell me this is one of your PMS days?”
Gia waved a hand, “Dillon don’t start with me.”
“Okay so it’s not PMS.” He smirked as he walked across the living room and sat on the couch, and stretched his arms throughout the cushions. “Let me guess, Smucky giving you a hard time?” Gia shook her head yes as she joined him on the couch, lingering out her feet on his lap.
Dillon arched a brow, “So, I’m suddenly your footstool?”
“Well, you have to be good for something,” Gia responded. “Thanks for asking, Dill.”
Dillon shrugged fatalistically. “It’s the least I can do since your letting me stay at your place. I’m not sure how much longer I could live in the Quartermaine hell house.”
“Does this mean your quitting ELQ?” Gia asked.
Dillon gave out a hasty laugh. “Not as long as the money’s good.”
“Been there,” Gia corresponded. Dillion looked at Gia and noticed her face brisk with stress.
“Gia,” he laid a land on her shoulder, “Why don’t you take the day off? Go outside, soak up some sun near the sea.”
Gia looked at him, “Is that your solution for everything?”
Dillion gave a casual smile, “That and getting seriously drunk with a hot girl.”
“Interesting advice, but my boat doesn’t float that way.” Gia put her feet down and ambled across the room; Dillon watched her.
“Well in that case, you can go out with me?” He offered.
“Yeah right,” Gia laughed, “No offense Dill, but I think I have a much better chance of getting drunk with another woman.” Her laughter continued as she walked out of the living room, with Dillion yelling, “Party pooper! She's knows she wants me.” He reassured himself.
Jack’s Jet
“Okay,” Jax commenced while settling on his seat, “The pilot said we should be in Port Charles in a couple of hours.” He looked at his wife.
Alexis looked up from her laptop at her husband’s dismayed face. “Jax, you act like I prefer to return to Port Charles. Well I don’t. Not one bit,” she remarked.
“I know.” Jax sighed. “I just hate to admit that we will both be going back into a world of badgering phone calls, 24hr business, not to mention your family won’t be too pleased about our nuptials.
“No, I can’t say they will.” Alexis thought of Stefan’s incoherent reaction. “But I know for a fact that Kristina will be happy. And Nikolas, doesn’t necessarily have anything against you.”
Jax thought. “So that leaves--.”
“Stefan,” they both said in unison. They looked at eachother and gave a small jerk of laughter.
Jax turned towards the cell phone standing on the right arm of the leather interior seat. He picked it up and observed the screen that read: 12 missed messages.
“Looks like I have some catching up to do,” Jax groaned and he snapped the power button off on his cell.
Alexis looked up for a second before incidentally babbling, “Don’t bother there all from Skye.”
Jax looked at her with inquisitiveness. “You knew that Skye called and you didn’t bother to tell me.”
Alexis’s fingertips had now discontinued typing. Kristina’s habits must be getting to me, she thought as she looked up at her husband who was anticipating for an answer. “I plead the fifth,” she said ineptly.
Jax threw her a frown. “Alexis. Skye and I are over, if that’s what’s bothering you.”
“No Jax,” she commenced, turning off the screen of her laptop, “It’s not that. It’s the fact that Skye Quartermaine is a manipulator, a liar, and will only lead you to a dead end road.”
Jax leaned closer on the arm of his seat, looking at her in the eye. “Alexis, I’ll be honest with you. I still care about Skye. But I don’t love her. And she might and probably is all those things you claim her to be. But I gave her my word that I would always help her through anything. I can’t turn back on that.”
“Of course you can’t,” she muttered, “You can’t turn your back on her or Carly, can you?”
“Do you know how hypocritical you sound now?” Jax declared. “You blame me for involving myself with women like Carly and Skye. Well, they’re not half as bad as men like Sonny Corinthos or Tom Hardy Jr. I’ve constantly warned you about Corinthos. But do you listen? No you didn’t, you did everything you could to defend him. And you’re telling me about how I shouldn’t support Skye.
Alexis turned to him, sharply. Knowing that she was left with no defense rebuttal, she bit out, “Do whatever you want Jax. No one’s stopping you. I’m definitely not.”
ELQ
Dillon enters his office. The blonde finery sitting on a chair neighboring his desk immediately gets his attention. “Waiting for me?” He smiled as he sank down on the rolling chair that was surrounded by his desk.
“Depends. Are you the idiot who promised me a recommendation and backed out?” Courtney pouted.
“Relax baby. I got it right here.” He held out a folder from the side of his desk.
Courtney pointed her index finger at him, “First off. Don’t call me ‘baby.’ And secondly,” she snatches the manilla folder from his hands, “Thanks. You really did pull through for me.”
“Did you expect anything less?” He serenely tilted his chair.
“Yes.” Courtney admitted.
“You know for a blonde, you’re really not that easy,” Dillon frowned.
“You just figured that out?” Courtney indirected, leaning on the side of his desk.
Dillon’s smile resurfaced and didn’t leaved his face as he walked up towards her and grabbed the folder.
“Hey.” Courtney raged. But Dillon held up a hand. “I have a better offer for you.”
“Whatever you’re thinking. I’m not that kind of a girl,” she thorned.
“Sure your not,” Dillon said sardonically. “But that’s not it. How about I give you a job?
“Where?” She inquired.
“Here. At ELQ.”
Near the beach house
Gia tied her hair back, surged sunscreen on her bare legs, stomach, toes, arms, and let the sun gust through her body. The small beach was secluded for the day. The motion of the waves was so vast and calm that it gave her a sense of self-possession. She settled in on the extended towel that covered a rectangular area of sand and protected her eyes with some shades.
“Hmm,” she relaxed, “For once Dillon had a good idea.”
“Yes I’d say so too,” said the shadow that blocked the sun from her aim.
Gia immediately took off her glasses and stared at the man in front of her. Casually dressed in a gray polo shirt and khaki shorts. Handsome. Laid-back. All the familiar features. It had been a long time since they’ve ran into eachother. And in truth, she wasn’t so resentful for seeing him again. She studied him for a moment then gave somewhat of a grin. “How’ve you been, Junior?”
Tom Hardy Jr. frowned at the sobriquet. “Okay.” He said in a negligent tone.
“Just okay?” Gia stood up. “The last time we met. You were better than okay.”
“Yeah, well the last time we met. You were wearing allot less than that bikini.” He said with a look that said in your face while enjoying the view of her in a bikini at the same time.
Gia sensed his stare. “You better enjoy it, Tommy. ‘Cause this will be the last time you’ll see me with anything less.” She said, sitting back on the towel
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that.” He gave a furtive grin, while looking back on the sand and the contents she had put near it. “Looks like I’m disturbing you. I’ll be out of your way.” He said walking off, but was seized down to the ground by a good arm.
“Still not used to being caught off guard?” She grinned, settling in next to him.
“No,” he took a breath, straightening his shorts, “No I’m not.”
“So what brings you back to Port Charles?” She asked.
“You,” he bursts out.
“Liar,” she put back.
“That I am.” He confesses. “I came here for business.” He looks at Gia’s questioning look and responds, “I’ve bought some chars of ELQ.”
“Hm,” she thought, “Dillion didn’t mention that.”
“Dillon?” He asked, pryingly.
“A friend of mine. Dillon Hornsby. Otherwise known as Dillon Hornsby-Quartermaine.”
Tom nodded, getting the picture. “So how is that infamous ex-husband of yours. What’s his name? Smucky.”
“I think you and Dillon would get along perfectly,” Gia chuckled. “But you know its Lucky. And, it hasn’t been going so well.”
“Care to talk about it?” He asked, putting his arms back.
“No.” Gia replied. “Not yet. I’m glad you’re here though.”
“Are you?” His eyes lit up, while he moved closer to her.
“Not in that way.” She raises a brow. “I need advice on business. With my company Deception.”
“Business? Came to the right person. You want to talk about it here or--.”
“No,” she breaks off, “Lets go inside to my beach house.”
“Even better.”
Gia looks at him fixedly. “And don’t try anything. Or else I’ll have to resort to violence.” She warned.
There was a small twinkle in Tom’s eye as he said, “Is that a promise?”
Club 101
9:30 a.m.
Zander walked into the club that wasn’t berated by crowds of people—at least not until the sun went down. He smiled at the first thing in his sight. Zander approaced Carly with open arms and settled for a kiss on the cheek. Carly welcomed her boyfriend’s comfort while talking on the phone.
“That’s wonderful Michael. All right. Call me tonight. I love you.” Carly jovially put down the cordless phone. Zander noticed how a sparkling smile had always appeared on Carly’s face whenever it involved Michael. It was obvious to anyone how much she loved him. He wished he could stay the same.
“Hey,” Carly came up to him with a kiss, “Why are you so quiet today?”
“I’m just tired. You really wore me out last night,” he stated.
“Did I?” Carly’s eyes appraised.
Zander laughed. “How’s Michael?”
“Good. He said he’s having a great time with AJ.” Carly contorted. “AJ? Can you believe that?”
“Yes.” Zander made his way to the bar and took out two glasses. He looked back at Carly’s probing expression. “Carly, they are father and son. As much as you love to deny it.” Carly shook her head and took a seat across the bar. “Michael’s said he’s going to come home soon.” Carly watched Zander’s face. “I’d like for you to come over and--.”
“Carly,” he distrupted, pouring a martini on her glass. “You know Michael doesn’t want me around.”
“Look Zander if you want us to get more serious then you have to get to know my son.” Carly said, making it optional.
“Michael’s made it clear, that he doesn’t like me,” Zander languished adding two olives to her drink.
“He just needs to understand and get use to us. I mean he’s already adapted to Jason, Sonny, hell even AJ.” She glowered.
Zander finished pouring his drink down then looked at her earnestly. “If it means that much to you…” Carly reached over and kissed him, “It does.”
“I wanted to ask you. Who was that guy that came up to you yesterday?” Zander inquired.
Carly took a swig of the martini, partly hesitant to answer him. “You mean Tom? He used to do business with Luke, now he owns a big chunk of ELQ. He wanted to buy the club? I refused. He left,” Carly explicated. Zander wasn’t fully influenced by her summary, but decided to let it go, for now. The last thing he wanted to hear was Carly making more excuses.
“So what are we doing tonight?” He asked, placing an olive in his mouth.
Carly’s cosmic grin returned, “Put on your dancing shoes, you’ll be moving with me all night.” Zander groaned remembering the fact that he was still trying to pace off last night’s club expedition.
