Alexis noticed it from the moment she walked inside the posh dining room at the Port Charles Polo Club. Men and women all stylishly dressed looking at her, breaking their conversations as she passed them. She wore a silk flowery dress with heels and underneath it, some of the most expensive lingerie from her favorite boutique in the City.

At first she'd cried a bit when she realized that when the lake house had gone up in flames, it'd taken almost all of her wardrobe with her. The twin blue dresses that Julian had taken off. The belt he'd wrapped around his hand before drawing her closer to him. All that had been left was the clothes she wore and that last shirt on her back had been ripped apart by who else? Julian when he unwrapped her like a kid who couldn't wait until Christmas to open his favorite present.

The weekend jaunt to the City to rebuild her wardrobe had done her a world of good. She tossed aside her tired old conservative padded shoulder suits and replaced them with 21st Century brands. More leather jackets, leather skirts and silken blouses and dresses than she needed. Her new house came with a walk in closet with a whole back wall reserved for her new shoe collection. In a sense it'd been like being reborn. You had to take a tragic loss like that and turn it into something gained that was a lesson she learned early in life. Her brother Stefan had preached it to her and her own experiences filled in the areas between the lines.

Onlookers could only speculate about what she wore beneath her designer dress and she realized quickly enough that some of the men were doing that right in front of their wives and girlfriends. She ignored them for the most part keeping her eyes open for her nephew Nikolas and his son, Spencer. Nikolas had gone out and spent some of his fortune on a string of polo ponies and then eventually he'd bought himself an entire team and brought it to PC. More millions spent on renovating an abandoned athletic field into a top of the line stadium with a grassy area set aside for outdoor gatherings on the way to the stables.

What could she say? Last year it had been racing yachts and regattas, this year it was elegant ponies and polo matches.

She had ridden over in a limo and Nikolas had explained to her about the polo matches held there which doubled as the forum for brokering business deals among some of the wealthiest men in the world. Her eyes widened a bit now as she saw some movers and shakers including some of the other men who had been at the party last night at Wyndamere.

The night she'd met her distant cousin Milan Cassadine, ruthless businessman and one who excelled at many athletic pursuits including polo. He was handsome, dark hair with even darker eyes and a well-trimmed beard. After kissing both of her cheeks in greeting, they spoke briefly and he promised her a great performance at the match the following day.

Now, the horses were being brought out to be saddled before the match and she saw Milan dressed to play next to a chestnut gelding. He seemed at ease around horses and he talked to the groom tacking up his mount.

Nikolas saw Alexis and walked towards her, embracing his aunt in greeting. She gestured to Milan and asked him if how he managed to play professional polo while running a business empire.

"He was quite the player back in the day but now it's a hobby mostly," Nikolas said, "but he trained with the best in between the other adventures in his busy life. He'll definitely help my team today."

They walked up to the stands where Nikolas of course had his own private viewing box. Alexis saw a bored looking Britt sitting there fanning herself with the match program. She brightened when she saw her boyfriend.

"Oh Nikolas, I thought you'd never make it back. I was getting bored at the wine tasting so I thought I'd wait for you here."

He kissed her and then sat down next to her. Alexis wandered to the buffet set up in the VIP section of the stands where champagne poured off a fountain amid displays of various fruits and pastries not to mention eggs, smoked meats and a Belgian Waffle bar.

Her stomach didn't feel that hungry so she contented herself with a plate of fruit, a croissant and some champagne which a man in a uniform poured into a glass for her. Someone jostled against her and she glanced over to see a familiar sight. He looked too damn fine in dark slacks and his black polo shirt underneath a blazer.

"Julian…"

He smiled at her.

"Alexis, so nice to see you. Your outfit…it's stunning."

He served himself some eggs, ham and the champagne while she grabbed some marmalade for her croissant.

"What are you doing here?"

He adjusted his plate and glass.

"I'm here like you are, to watch the polo match."

She frowned.

"You like polo?"

He nodded.

"I went to some matches growing up," he said, "My newspaper published the story about your nephew buying the team here."

"Really…"

He smirked.

"Relax Alexis. I'm just here to enjoy the scenery and the excitement of athletic completion not to pester you as you call it about scheduling our date."

She rolled her eyes.

"Of course, so far our attempts to do that haven't led anywhere. Maybe we should just quit while we're ahead."

His brows furrowed.

"You mean not have the date?"

She nodded.

"I told you I can refund your winning bid in full."

He shook his head.

"I refuse to put you in the position of breaching your contract with me and I will sue you for breach if you don't go out with me."

She reared back.

"Excuse me? You didn't just say that Julian. You can't force me to go out with you."

He clearly enjoyed himself.

"Who said anything about forcing you," he said, "If I remember quickly I haven't forced you to do anything including while…discussing our date."

Her cheeks flushed then, remembering those attempts. Certain body parts tingled right now at the memories of those times. She had to get out of here.

"Excuse me I think the match is about to get started," she said, "I want to get back to my seat."

He nodded and they both left to go watch the match. Nikolas and Britt were making out in the box so Alexis tried not to notice and took a seat, putting her plate and glass down on a small table.

The horses with riders aboard began to warm up in front of where she sat watching. Most of the riders seemed very adept with their mounts, almost as if they were extensions of themselves and they practiced some volleys with balls on the field in preparation.

"Are you Alexis?"

She looked up to see a red headed woman dressed in blue standing there holding her champagne.

"Yes… who are you?"

"I'm Cecelia, Milan's sister," she said, "Nice to meet you. I couldn't make it to the party last night."

Alexis shook the woman's hand and the woman took a seat next to her after greeting Nikolas.

"I didn't know I had cousins in Italy. I had heard the Cassadine family had splintered off into different branches."

Cecelia laughed.

"All branches of the same poisoned tree though the Italian Cassadine branch is not as crazy as some of the others."

Alexis wondered about that. She had yet to meet a normal Cassadine…well except for Nikolas of course.

"I was married at one time for 20 years to a musician but he left me for a background singer," Cecelia said, "After the divorce, I bought a villa next to my brother's and opened up a winery."

"That's nice. So you and your brother are close?"

Cecelia paused then nodded.

"Not always. We were estranged during the final years of my marriage but we're close now," she said, "I never had any children and if Milan has any, he hasn't told me."

Alexis knew all about that from her own biography. In the Cassadine family, mistresses were hidden by their lovers or they had their throats slit. Helena's knife was etched by DNA besides that of her mother.

"So he lives alone?"

Cecelia shook her head.

"He's got a young man living with him. Someone he inherited and took into his household. He's now in his early thirties and has a career that takes him away for long periods and he doesn't talk about much."

Alexis digested that.

"Maximillian Cassadine is indeed a man of mystery."

Alexis sipped her champagne listening to her cousin.

"But he's got this whole other life…his business, it keeps him busy and like the others, he's got secrets."

Alexis kept her chin level.

"Everyone has secrets…"

Cecelia pursed her lips.

"Part and parcel of being a Cassadine, better than a paternity test."

Then the sound of footsteps and Alexis looked up to see Milan who walked up to them, carrying his helmet.

"Second chukka plus a horse threw a shoe," he said, "Thought I'd come up and say hi to my supporters."

Alexis and Cecelia both looked at each other as Nikolas fetched Milan a water bottle and threw it to him.

"Thanks Cousin…So what's going on here?"

Cecelia smiled at him.

"Oh Milan I was chatting up with our cousin here. Catching up on all the family times we've missed springing from two different branches of the family tree."

Milan nodded.

"I see. You look lovely. How are you enjoying the game?"

Cecelia looked at her glass.

"Look I got to get some more champagne before the match restarts," she said, "Milan go out there and win this game for Cousin Nick."

Alexis smiled at him.

"Thank you and I'm enjoying the game very much. I did the contracts for Nikolas' acquisition of the team earlier this year."

"You did very well," Milan said, "Both of you. The team's near the top of the League standings."

"Nikolas is pleased. But what about you? I would think that running your successful empire in Rome would keep you quite busy."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"Yes very busy. Too much so for youthful pursuits. But I play enough to stay in shape."

She had to agree that he appeared very fit.

"I hope Cecelia didn't bore you too much with details about life in the Tuscany Valley," he said, "It's a nice place to get away from it all but a much slower pace than here."

She agreed.

"I loved spending time there with my brother Stefan when I wasn't busy with University."

"You went to Yale didn't you, for undergrad studies and their law school?"

She nodded again.

"It's a great institution. I wanted my daughter Kristina to attend but that didn't work out."

He smiled.

"You do have a very lovely family. I've seen photos. I can see they take after you."

She shrugged.

"I hope they inherited my better qualities than my flawed ones…"

He shook his head.

"You're an amazing woman Alexis Davis," he said, "to have survived inheriting such a legacy and becoming successful in spite of it."

She heard an odd inflection in his voice but then the signal for the next chukka sounded and he had to resume playing. But before he left he turned around and faced her.

"Meet me in the stables after the match. We have business to discuss…"

With that, he walked away heading back to his horse leaving Alexis puzzled and with a myriad of questions.

After the match had ended, she wondered about why he wanted to meet with her privately.. She had glanced over at Nikolas during the match but his attention remained focused on the action taking place on the field and he seemed unaware of anything else. He likely didn't know their cousin wanted to meet with her alone.

Nikolas walked over to her leaving Britt in her seat.

"So you ready for some lunch?"

She hedged.

"I might pass. Milan wanted to see me, maybe to introduce me to his horse."

He nodded.

"I'll order extra…the salmon and sautéed vegetables are very good here."

She smiled, ever the thoughtful nephew and then took off towards the stables where she figured Milan waited.

As Alexis walked to the stables, she kept asking herself why she was going there. Yes it was because Milan had asked to meet with her about business but she had no idea what kind of business and why it warranted discussion with her. After all, she'd just met her newly discovered cousin last night.

She looked behind her several times to make sure she wasn't being followed, or being watched as she slipped down the pathway towards where the polo ponies were kept. She didn't know why she did that, old habit perhaps?

As she left the grassy area towards the dirt pathway, she saw Julian talking with a couple of men including the owner of a major shipyard south of PC. She wondered if his interest involved his legitimate businesses or his illicit ones before reminding herself that the law abiding businessman Derek Wells had been as real as any one of his shell companies.

So back to Milan, and why he wanted to speak with her. She knew his empire umbrellaed hundreds of companies working in all kinds of industries throughout the world. Did he need her legal skills for some reason? Sam had done some research into the wee hours of the morning on the internet researching him and there were some accounts of a rumored acquisition of a pharmaceutical company by Milan's conglomerate. Maybe his request had to do with that.

After opening the door, she walked inside into the darkness, with a light shining in front of her near the bales. She saw bales of hay in front of her and tack including reins and metal bits lining the walls where they hung. And she saw a row where she heard noises which sounded like horses inside stalls, moving around and making soft nickering noises. She looked around her and didn't see anyone.

Then she heard footsteps behind her and she turned around. A man stood there looking at her and closed the barn door behind her.

Milan.

Her breath hitched as she looked at him.

"So we won't be disturbed."

She watched him closely as he left the door and approached her.

"I'm glad you showed up.

She arched a brow.

"Any reason why you thought I wouldn't?"

He smiled, but his eyes scrutinized her.

"Not really. But I surmise you're wondering what couldn't be discussed in a more public place."

She shrugged.

"I've had meetings like this before when the business involved is very…sensitive in nature."

He chuckled.

"Then this should feel very familiar to you."

She pursed her lips, after glancing around the spacious barn to make sure nothing would suddenly fly out of the darkness of the rafters at them.

"What business did you want to discuss?"

"We'll get to that in a minute," he said, "Alexis…I know that you are not what would be put less than delicately as a legitimate Cassadine…"

She didn't flinch.

"I am one by blood. Not by choice. But I do get your meaning."

He seemed to choose his words carefully not wanting to offend her.

"Your mother was the mistress of Mikkos Cassadine," he continued, "She bore him two daughters, of which you were the elder and his wife Helena had his mistress, your mother murdered."

"She did the deed herself actually," Alexis said, "Right in front of me when I was five. Is there a point to this?"

She heard what sounded like sympathy in his husky voice, but it was layered under something more intense.

"It doesn't matter to me if you're recognized under Cassadine code or not," he said, "You and your family are family to Cecelia and me."

She heard the warmth in his voice and knew he meant it. It puzzled her though because she had just met the two of them and besides Stefan and Nikolas, none of the other Cassadines had been nearly as welcoming.

"You are important to us."

Now that confused her.

"What…what do you mean?"

He sighed, still standing apart from her.

"It's a difficult and long story," he said, "going back many years."

She folded her arms, looking at him directly.

"How many years?"

"Back when you were somewhat younger," he said, "but that's not what this is about Alexis."

"Then what is it about?"

He chuckled.

"Ah very direct. I like that.

She rubbed her arms.

"I find that the direct approach is best in almost every situation."

He seemed to approve of that and glancing around the barn again, he continued. She wondered if he were expecting anyone.

If so whether that person would be welcome or not. Much about the man and his background she didn't understand.

"It's about the man I took in years ago," he said, "back when he had just turned 18. I had paid for his schooling years before that but never actually met him…except when he was a young boy."

She nodded.

"You mean Maximillian. Don't you?"

His face brightened.

"Ah I see Cecelia told you about him."

She wondered if he approved of that, not able to tell from the expression on his face.

"Not very much. Just that the two of you are quite close."

He nodded.

"Very close. I consider him my son though he's not by blood. He has got Cassadine roots but not mine."

"I see…Cecelia says that his work is secretive."

"He's an operative for a security organization known as the WSB."

Alexis had definitely heard a lot about them. She didn't know that they employed anyone from the Cassadine family since they'd dedicated so much energy and resources to hunting them down. Of course, her perception had been somewhat challenged by the knowledge that one of her uncles, Victor was now in charge of it.

"So what about him? Does he need a lawyer?"

His brow rose when she said that.

"Perhaps he might," he said, "If I could find him. He's deep in assignment in some classified location."

"So why did you want me here then," she said, "I've got nothing to do with the WSB and have no pull with any of them."

"But you do have other…contacts."

She didn't know what he was talking about, feeling confused.

"What contacts?"

He paused for a long moment.

"How I put this delicately? You have contacts…with organized crime."

She widened her eyes.

"You're talking about the mob aren't you?"

He nodded.

"I know you worked for Sonny Corinthos for years before you quit recently to set up your own firm."

She nodded carefully.

"I did and before I'm reminded, yes we share a daughter. And why we're on the topic, I also share a daughter with another mobster named Julian Jerome. His family ran the entire New York and New Jersey territories before they imploded. Julian's picked up where he left off after spending a couple of decades in witness protection under the WSB."

He seemed to digest that, an inscrutable look on his face.

"Before you ask, I don't have any useful contacts," she said, "I only lawyered Sonny's legitimate operations, mostly contracts and I don't associate any longer with Julian after he got my house blown up."

He sighed.

"I see…if I could give you further information…"

Suddenly the door swung open and in walked Julian with the businessman he'd been talking with earlier. The one in charge of the shipping yard. Julian saw her there and his eyes widened slightly.

"Alexis…what a surprise."

She tilted her face.

"Julian…what are you doing here?"

He sized up the situation with her and Milan.

"I could ask the same thing," he said, "but Clyde Dawson here and were going to check in on his polo pony."

Milan smiled at Julian.

"You must be Julian…Jerome of the publishing business. I think I bought one of your companies a year ago when you were Derek Wells. A publishing house in London."

Julian nodded.

"Yes…"

"I think the name change suits you Mr. Jerome," Milan said, "I'm Milan Cassadine, a cousin of Alexis'."

They shook hands. Milan looked over at Clyde who looked somewhat agitated.

"Mr. Dawson…I was going to call your office," he said, "I have a fleet of yachts and looking for a place to park them."

Clyde smiled.

"I think I can help you with that…if you'll excuse us…"

Milan turned to Alexis.

"We'll catch up later," he said, "I'll get in touch."

She nodded as she watched the two men leave the barn and then turned towards Julian. Her arms folded, her legs in typical alpha female stance.

"All right Julian, what are you really doing here?"

He just smiled at her, that sly look on his face masked as innocence.

"Here…to see a polo pony of course," he said, "but now that I've got you alone in a more private setting. We can discuss scheduling that date…"

She rolled her eyes at him.

"I'm not discussing anything. I'm leaving…"

She started to leave and then felt him grab her arm pulling her back. The way that Julian looked at her now excited and terrified her. Not that he'd ever hurt her but because he had done that despite all his intentions. The ability he had to twist her feelings in painful knots and then rip them asunder again scared her.

He released her quickly and she stood there, her legs a bit shaky staring at him.

"Julian, okay lunch at the MC while I'm not in court and you can pick up dessert to go."

He considered that.

"No…the only way we'll dine at the MC is if we order room service."

She narrowed her eyes.

"I don't think you're allowed to book a suite there since your eviction," she said, "and it's not going on my card."

He chuckled.

"What's so funny Julian?"

He looked amused and that annoyed her. He had to understand that this date wasn't happening.

"Just that every time we plan this date, we wind up half dressed and making out so it's hard to believe you don't want to go on that date."

Her face turned pink, yes there was that. But it wasn't her fault. Her body had a mind of its own around him.

"Yeah that's a quandary, I'll have to bring that up in my counseling session with Dr. Collins next week!"

He looked at her dismayed.

"You're in therapy because we can't be in the same room without ripping each other's clothes off?"

She waved a hand.

"I'm kidding Julian. About that, not about this date."

His face grew serious.

"I'm not…"

He took a step towards her and she would have backed up but her legs bumped against a hay bale. One more step and she'd be lying on it, straw digging into her back. No, that wasn't going to happen. She refused to budge as he drew closer to her. His cologne and musk doing crazy things to her senses.

"Alexis…"

"What Julian?"

"Look at me…I want those eyes of yours on my face."

She sighed and lifted her face to look at him.

"Your eyes are beautiful but then so is the rest of you."

He reached over to touch her for the first time, with some fingers that nudged some of the hair off of her face. His gaze never failed to unnerve her.

"Why are you doing this? You know it'll never work."

"Says who? You know we can work this out."

He reached out with one hand and trailed his fingers over one of her breasts still sheathed in the silk of her dress. She felt it harden beneath his touch. She tried to ignore it. He was playing with her and she'd not let him get the better of her.

"Julian…"

"Yes Alexis?"

His smooth voice betrayed just a trace of jaggedness as he continued to tease her breast through her bra as he looked at her.

"We can't do this…it's so wrong."

His voice teased her.

"Why?"

Exasperation laced hers.

"You know damn well why."

He sighed patiently at her protests.

"If it's so wrong Alexis, then why are you still here?"

He placed his hands on her hips and pulled her closer to his muscular body without wasting a moment.

She quivered beneath his embrace then she felt his mouth on hers, after he'd grabbed her hair with one of his hands. He kissed her softly, barely brushing her lips at first but that was enough to charge her body. Her muscles tensed and he must have felt it.

"Relax…Alexis…"

"I can't…I don't know why I'm doing this…"

"Yes you do," he cajoled, "You know exactly why you're doing this."

His lips traveled from her face across her neck, kissing it and every so often she'd feel the nip of his teeth and nearly jump. But she willed herself still, not wanting to think she was succumbing too easily.

"It's not going to work."

He nipped at her neck again, picking up a fold of her skin there and then releasing it again, teasing her. His hands began to move up to cup her breasts still sheathed by her bra. She felt the hardness in his groin even with the several layers of fabric that separated them. Her nipples hardened beneath his palms and started to tingle in a pleasurable way. She arched her body against his hands unable to stop herself.

"Oh you want it don't you," he said, "how much do you want it Alexis...?"

She could barely talk with what his hands did to her. He started rubbing the nipples of her breasts with his thumbs, the silky fabric rubbing against them. She tried to bite back her moan.

"No…I…I…"

"Don't deny it Alexis," he said, "I can feel how bad you want it beneath my hands and I know if I slipped one of my hands elsewhere I'd really feel it…and so would you."

She gulped knowing that if he slipped some fingers inside her panties, she'd feel how slick she was right now. Sliding one of his fingers inside of her would be like an ice pick slicing through butter.

No, she couldn't let it get that far. Something flashed in her head right then right through the pleasure flooding her body. Something sharp and vivid, a memory slipped out and shot to the surface.

She pushed him away from her suddenly. He looked at her dismayed and puzzled.

"Alexis? What did I do?"

She turned on him exasperated.

"No it's not you," she said, "I just thought of something…or maybe I remembered it."

He watched her face carefully.

"What?"

She looked at him for a long moment.

"Something in a file I read years ago," she said, "something very odd."

Julian looked more perplexed but she focused on that memory to grab hold of it before it slipped away again.

"I can't remember now," she said, feeling the frustration fill her, "It doesn't matter anyway."

He frowned.

"If it's important enough to you, it does matter Alexis. What did you see?"

She heard concern laced in his voice.

"It's gone now…but I think it had to do with Sam."

He drew closer to her.

"Sam? You mean our daughter?"

She smiled when she heard the emphasis in his voice. Even when he pissed her off she didn't question his love of their daughter and grandson.

"I think so. But now…I'm sure it's nothing. I think it's time to head back. I've got errands to run and you must have some…business to handle."

He interjected.

"Alexis…I do run legit companies including the local paper."

She conceded that.

"Yes but we both know that you're also the kingpin of a major drug operation on the seaboard."

Something crossed Julian's face that she didn't understand. She couldn't quite define it. Guilt maybe, at least he hoped.

"It's not what you think Alexis."

She sighed, some weariness in her voice.

"I guess that's for you to decide Julian…"

She turned to walk away from again when he interrupted her.

"One more thing, we're having dinner at the Floating Rib tomorrow night. I'll pick you up at 7."

She started to protest but he had already left the barn leaving her in total disbelief. Well this wasn't going to fly. She'd have to call him in the morning or text him setting him straight on a few things.

First she wanted to call Sam and ask her if she could put her PI skills to dig up some more information on Milan Cassadine.