Chapter One:Glancing at the broken clock on her desk, Kate considered how closely the unreliable contraption mirrored her life. The hands on the clock were stuck, unsure of which way to go. They existed but couldn't move, couldn't find a purpose. Although she was officially on top in the fashion world again and enjoying herself with a very complimentary bartender, Kate felt as though she was at an impasse. If this was all there was to life, well, it was lonely. Perhaps the realization wouldn't have burned her heart so fiercely a few years ago, but after knowing what real love and contentment could feel like, the absence of it was that much harder to bear. But before she began feeling too sorry for herself, Kate forced a tired laugh. Laughing was the only way she could keep from crying and Kate Howard had no intention of sharing her tears with the world. The few times she had done it – been vulnerable, that is – it ended in heartache. No, those moments of weakness were once again a foreign concept to Crimson's editor and chief. After Sonny and her parted ways, Kate worked overtime to build her walls back up and they were stronger than ever. It would take an entire army to tear them down. "Kate, earth to Kate, didn't you hear me say that the sketches from Jacque, that new up and coming designer from Milan, are here? You've been waiting for them all week and, I confess, I peeked and they're amazing!" Maxie's enthusiastic, fashion-loving voice broke Kate out of her thoughts and reintroduced her to reality. A reality that no longer included Sonny Corinthos. "I'm sorry, Maxie. I was trying to reconstruct a layout in my head and…well, never mind," she lied. "Hand them over."Maxie did as she was told and waited anxiously for her mentor's insights. No matter how much Maxie believed she understood fashion, she was smart enough to realize that there was always something valuable to learn from Kate. And considering Maxie practically worshiped the ground she walked on and wanted to grow up to be Kate Version 2.0, her attention was more than focused on the woman in front of her. "Exquisite. These are exactly the kind of pieces Crimson needs to promote to young women everywhere. They're edgy but tasteful, perfect for dressing up or down. The kind of clothes I would have killed to have access to growing up. Get me Jaque on the phone now. I want to make him an offer he can't refuse." Fourty-five minutes later and Kate had successfully worked her magic. Well, almost. She had garnered a trial run and that was more than Coutoure or any of her other competitors could say. A few phone calls and favors had resulted in Kate earning the title of fashion overseer of Port Charles' annual Nurse's Ball. It was there that she would have her models draw attention to Jacque's new designs while walking the runway. A one of a kind piece would be auctioned off before the night was over and the press that Jacque and Crimson would get from the partnership would be monumental. At least, that was what Kate had promised Jacque and she intended to deliver. If her efforts paid off, Jacque's clothes would become the official Crimson line. Of course, there was a catch and Kate was just waiting for all hell to break loose because of it. Jacque had visited Kate in Port Charles back in the summer before jetting off to Milan for inspiration and the young designer had taken quite a shining to Kristina Corinthos during that time. Kate had offered to give Kristina a tour of Crimson's offices and supply her with free clothes samples to take with her to Yale as a favor to Alexis when Jacque showed up unannounced. Apparently, though Kate was unaware of it at the time, Kristina had shared with Jacque her pipe dream – to be a famous model. Jacque thought that Kristina would be the perfect fresh face for his designs and asked, or rather demanded, that Kate make her the star of the Nurse's Ball and his line or he would collaborate with Gisele instead. Kate, whose powers of persuasion were often likened to a hypnotist, had phoned Kristina instantly at Yale with the offer. It took very little convincing to get her on board. Honestly, what eighteen-year-old wouldn't trade in law books for the runway? It was an opportunity that only came once in a lifetime. Many young girls would have killed for it. Unfortunately, Kate herself might just be killed for offering it to Kristina. And just like that, almost as if she had a sixth sense of some sort, the front door of Crimson flew open with a loud bang and Kate could hear Maxie in a panic begging whoever the intruders were to calm down. Kate counted down in her head how long it would take for the door to her office to be broken off its hinges. Three…two…one…"What on earth do you think you are doing?" Alexis Davis' shrill voice demanded as Sonny crossed his arms in anger, standing beside her in support. This was clearly a tag-team effort. "Kristina phoned both of us saying she's quitting Yale," Sonny revealed in disapproval. "For your magazine," Alexis chimed in, rolling her eyes and looking as though she might have literally thrown something across the room at Kate had an item been within her reach. Kate quickly relocated the scissors on her desk to a drawer before making an attempt to defend her actions. "Kristina is an adult and I don't think she would appreciate the two of you…""We are her parents, Kate," Alexis cut in. "Her parents who know what's best for her and that is getting an education and not flouncing around in overpriced garments that barely cover her body for fifteen minutes of fame and attention from people like...""People like me, Alexis?" Kate shook her head in amusement, refusing to be spoken down to. "And I don't seem to recall you having contempt for fashion when I was handing out free samples to you and Diane last week.""Don't you dare patronize me, Kate. You went over our heads," Alexis declared."And now Kristina is going to ruin her life because of it," Sonny said in a matter of fact tone. "Well, I'm sorry you feel that way but I think that Kristina has a lot of potential and the two of you should consider that and respect what she says she wants." Throwing her hands up in frustration, Alexis mumbled something about having a court date and promised Kate that this discussion wasn't over before turning quickly on her heels and storming out. Sonny stood there silently, his eyes practically boring holes into Kate. The intensity of his gaze used to be something that drew her to him, but that was back when he looked at her with desire instead of disdain. "Do you have something else to add, because I have a conference call to make and I refuse to tell Kristina how she should live her life. I tried that with you and we know how that ended."Kate had tried to convince Sonny to change, to leave the mob for good and build a new life with her. Instead, he chose revenge and a marriage to Claudia Zacchara. Even then, Kate had tried to work past the hurt in an effort to warn Sonny of Claudia's involvement in Michael's shooting. But every time she made a move to tell Sonny the truth, he pulled away and chose to put his trust in everyone but her. Kate had decided since then that it wasn't her place to save anyone or tell them what paths to take in life. "I don't expect you to understand," Sonny replied coldly. "You're not a mother."Kate felt herself recoil at his words, but she held her chin high and refused to let the pain his insult inflicted show. It had been months since she had seen Sonny. Even after the truth about Claudia finally came out and she was killed by Michael, there was no sign of the mob boss. It wasn't as though she expected a reunion, far from it, but a simple acknowledgement of how she was right would have been appreciated. Instead, Sonny chose to see her again to tell her that she was going to be the person responsible for messing up his daughter's future, and to remind her of the fact that she had missed her opportunity to be a mother. It was a fact she had once shared with Sonny that she regretted and now he was using it against her. How they had gone from claiming to love one another a little less than a year ago to this was incomprehensible to her. "You're right, Sonny. I know absolutely nothing and you know everything," Kate responded. "No, you knew something I didn't," Sonny continued on, taking two steps closer to Kate until his face was close enough to hers for her to feel his breath on her skin. He gave her a challenging look and Kate raised an eyebrow, perplexed. "I have a feeling your coming here wasn't about Kristina," Kate concluded. "So what is it? What do you have to say, Sonny?"Shaking his head back in forth, a bitter laugh escaped Sonny's lips as he cleared his throat before saying to Kate what he had wanted to say since finding out the truth last week."You knew that Dante was my son and you kept it from me," Sonny said. "And what I'm wondering, is what else you lied to me about while we were together, Kate Howard."Kate bristled, working overtime not to let any emotion show at being found out. A part of her was relieved that the secret that had weighed her down for so many years was finally lifted, but to see Sonny looking at her the way he was now…like a stranger…it stung down to the core of her very being."Kate Howard? No Connie?" she asked in avoidance."Well, y'know, you always talked about Connie being gone and I didn't want to believe it but you were right. Because the girl I knew growing up, the Connie who told me she loved me and that I could trust her…I don't see her. In fact, when I look at you now Kate, I don't really see anyone I know or would want to know."