A Rush of Blood to the Head

Chapter One

Claudia Corinthos was giddy with excitement as she finally got out of the downpour and into the boutique. It had rained for the past two days in Port Charles, but nothing could ruin her mood today. She had waited for this dress for over two weeks, and now it was finally here. This was probably the best birthday present ever.

Claudia's connections weren't valuable only in the mob world. Thanks to Uncle Rudy, who was good friends with Donatella Versace, the world-famous fashion designer, Claudia was almost in possession of a one-of-a-kind original made especially for her. And the best part? If this dress had been put on the market, it would have cost thousands of dollars. Claudia was getting it one hundred percent free.

"Uh, excuse me?" she said, coming up to the counter of the boutique, where a saleswoman was going through the day's revenues. She looked up when Claudia approached her.

"How can I help you?" she asked.

"A dress came in for me today," said Claudia. "It should be under the name 'Claudia Corinthos.'"

"Hold on, let me check," said the saleswoman. She pulled a clipboard out from under the counter, scanning over the names. Claudia tapped her foot impatiently. She was so close to having this dress, she could almost taste it. Or, so she thought, until the saleswoman looked up reluctantly.

"I'm sorry, someone has already picked it up," she said.

Claudia was confused. Someone had taken it? But who? When the call had come, Max had offered to pick up the dress for her, but Claudia had wanted to do it herself. And Max knew better than to disobey Claudia.

"What do you mean, 'someone already picked it up?'" Claudia asked, anger clouding her confusion. "Do you just let anybody walk in here and take someone else's dress? Did you even check their I.D.?"

"If you want to talk to the woman, I think she's still in the store," she said. She craned her neck, looking over the racks and shelves of expensive and quality dresses, jewelry, and shoes. Suddenly, she found who she was looking for. "Oh, there she is," she said, pointing. Claudia followed her finger. "Over by the scarves." Claudia saw two women. One was another saleswoman, but that wasn't who she was concerned with. She was more focused on the bloodless stick holding the dress bag.

Claudia stomped her way over to the chatting women, not feeling sorry at all to be interrupting the conversation.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" she asked angrily.

Kate gave the saleswoman a "I hate this woman with a burning passion" glance, saying, "I'm sorry, Gloria. I guess we'll have to finish our conversation another time." The saleswoman gave a knowing look back, then walked away, leaving Claudia and Kate to face off alone.

"What is it, Claudia?" Kate asked tiredly. "I have a very busy schedule today."

"I don't care about your damn schedule!" Claudia shouted, causing the heads of shoppers and salespeople alike to turn in their direction. "Give me my dress!"

Kate rolled her eyes. "Please, Claudia, try not to make a scene. And what do you mean, your dress? I happen to know that this dress is mine."

This chick was delusional if she thought she was going to get away with taking Claudia's birthday present. "Okay, I don't know what planet you live on, but Donatella Versace made that dress for me, and I intend to have it."

Kate laughed mirthfully. This day just kept getting better and better. "Oh, so you're the woman Donatella was talking about. Isn't that ironic?"

Claudia didn't care what was ironic and what wasn't. "Just spit it out."

"You see, I was in somewhat of a crisis. I have a photo shoot coming up this week, and I still needed another dress, but nothing I found went with the concept. I called Donatella for a favor, and she told me that she had made a dress for someone else, but that she'd be more than willing to give it to me." Kate smiled at her own scheme, something Claudia wanted to punch her for. "While Donatella has many friends that she is loyal to, I always come first in her book. Bites, doesn't it?"

Claudia was so angry, she felt like she could kill Kate with her bare hands, but decided not to. At least, not in the boutique, where there were plenty of witnesses.

"And, let me say, it is a beautiful dress. It'll have to be taken in a little bit, seeing as you're not exactly the same size as my models—"

Claudia was not going to let that go. "Did you just call me fat?"

Kate smiled evilly again. "Not directly." Claudia didn't say anything. Actions spoke louder than words, and right now, any actions she planned on committing could end up in a trip down to the PCPD.

"Well, since there's nothing left to say, I have to get going. Nice seeing you, Claudia. Give Sonny my best." She began stalking out of the boutique, dress bag slung over her shoulder. She stopped at the door, turned around and said, "He'll need it." Then, mercifully, she left.

Claudia stood in the middle of the store, fuming, while everyone stared at her. It was embarrassing. She had just been owned by Kate Howard, in public. That was enough to ruin anyone's day. No, make that anyone's month.

Man, did Claudia hate that bitch.

*

"Hey, Marty!" Carly Jacks said cheerfully as she made her way to the front desk of the Metro-Court, shaking off the rain. Today was going to be a great day, despite the weather. It was Morgan's birthday, and he was getting his big party in the Metro-Court ballroom. Carly had been planning it for weeks, and was so excited that the day was finally here.

"Morning, Mrs. Jacks," said Marty nervously. He guessed that no one had told her the bad news yet, and he hadn't wanted to be the one to break it to her.

"So, how's the ballroom coming?" Carly asked impatiently. She couldn't wait until it was finished.

Marty bit his bottom lip nervously. "Um, Mrs. Jacks, there's something—"

"Never mind, I'll just go see it myself!" Carly walked away from the front desk and towards the ballroom, with an anxious Marty following her.

"Look, Mrs. Jacks, we really should—" he started to say, but didn't finish as Carly opened the door to the ballroom. What she saw was not what she expected.

At first, Carly was confused. Nothing she had ordered was here. She had gotten the best DJ in town to cover music, but instead, she saw a string quartet setting up in the corner. All the food and beverages she had ordered (chips, pretzels, pizza, soda, and, of course, Morgan's birthday cake), weren't what was being set up on the tables. Instead, she saw what looked like caviar and other gross, healthy stuff, not to mention champagne flutes. There were no balloons, streamers, or any other party decorations set up. If the Metro-Court didn't only have the one ballroom, Carly would have thought that she had walked into the wrong one.

She turned to Marty. "What's going on? My son is turning twelve, not getting married."

Marty braced himself for the information he was about to disclose. "Mr. Jacks didn't tell you?" he asked, and Carly shook her head. Jax was in Hong Kong on business for the next two weeks. "It was a last minute thing. Kate Howard needed a space for a Crimson event. Nothing else in town was available."

Carly was in shock. Morgan's birthday was coming in second to something for Crimson?Last time she checked, she owned this hotel. So what she said meant the most, especially when it came to Kate Howard's "needs."

"Marty, I'm gonna give you ten seconds to explain why I should let Kate Howard ruin my son's birthday."

Marty knew that she was pissed as hell, and tried to get an explanation out as quick as possible. "Mr. Jacks gave the okay for Ms. Howard to have the function."

Carly should have known. Jax and Kate were too busy being buddy-buddies to even consider bringing her in on the decision. While she knew Jax loved her, she also knew that he'd do anything to help Crimson, which he had invested so much money in. That didn't make her hate the situation any less.

"What am I supposed to do, Marty?" she asked desperately. "Morgan has been looking forward to this ever since I told him. All of his friends are supposed to come. Do you know how much of a letdown this is going to be to him?"

"Isn't your new house big enough to accommodate the party?" Marty asked hopefully.

Carly shook her head. "The key word there is 'new.' I'm not going to let a bunch of teenagers run through the house."

"What about the yard?" Marty suggested.

"Uh, incase you haven't noticed, its pouring rain outside, Marty!" Carly shouted at him. "And why should I have to move my party? I was here first! I own this hotel! Can't she just have it in Manhattan? What's so appealing about Port Charles anyway?"

"A place in Manhattan, on such short notice? Nothing is available."

"Well, can't she just wave her magic Kate Howard wand and make something available?"

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Jacks," said Marty in way of answering.

Carly was beyond pissed. Now, instead of getting Morgan ready for his party, she would have to tell him that he wasn't having one, all because Kate Howard needed a space for a stupid Crimson function. He would be so embarrassed. He had invited all of his friends, and now he'd be known as the kid who didn't have the best party in the grade.

Man, did Carly hate that bitch.