Chapter 7: The Plot Thickens
Valentin had to think quickly. "We were in a car accident. The car caught on fire; you were trapped inside for a little bit. The reason why I didn't say that is because I didn't want to force you to remember something so traumatic."
Lulu seemed to buy what he was saying, she nodded in agreement. "Sorry when I saw the burns I didn't know what to think."
"It's okay, Lulu. I would be suspicious as well." Valentin got up from behind the desk, wrapped his arms around Lulu. He steered her away from the television screen in case it jarred any memories. "Come on let's get something to eat, okay."
He let Lulu go out of the door first, Valentin turned to look at Helena. "Do not say a word to her. We don't want her to remember anything yet, do we?"
"We don't want to her to remember anything at all," Helena said quietly.
Lulu walked into the solarium one of the servants was setting up a bistro-style table in the middle of the room. The table was in front of the French doors that were open, letting in the warm sea air.
"Ms. Lulu, what can I prepare you for breakfast?" the servant asked, holding out the chair for Lulu.
"Um," Lulu sat down. "I would love some scrambled eggs, some sausage, hash browns, and wheat toast. Oh and a glass of OJ, please."
"Okay I will let the chef know about your selection."
The servant was going to push Lulu's chair in when Valentin caught it with his hand. "Allow me."
"Mr. Cassadine what can the chef prepare you for breakfast?"
After he pushed in Lulu's chair, Valentin took the chair across from her. "I will have whatever Lulu is having."
"Yes sir, the beverages will be out momentarily."
"So whose funeral were you watching?" Lulu asked. "Was it anyone that I would know when I get my memory back?"
Valentin cleared his throat. "It was a family friend that I was not able to attend. That is why I was watching the video feed of it."
"Is it my fault that you couldn't go? I mean the accident?" Lulu asked. "You were taking care of me instead of mourning your friend?"
Valentin reached across the table, caressing Lulu's wrist. "Don't worry about it; you are most important to me. I would do anything to keep you safe."
"Where are we exactly?" Lulu nodded to the massive ocean. "I would like to know what part of the world we are at."
Valentin smiled. "Of course you would like to know, anyone would."
Valentin was thankful for the interruption when the servant came back with their breakfast. He set the plates in front of them while another servant came with the glass or orange juice and cups of coffee.
"Thank you," Lulu stated. "This looks really great."
"It does. I need to go fly to another island for a meeting this afternoon; I won't be back until later this evening. I wouldn't go if it weren't important. You can have the run of the house if you want. Go for a walk on the beach. I have a library here with all the books you can imagine to read."
"You are leaving me here alone?" Lulu asked as she took a sip of her orange juice.
"I have a few hours before I have to leave," Valentin pointed out. "It's really important that I go to this meeting. You will be alright the staff will take really good care of you. That is what they are here for."
Lulu finished her eggs and drained the rest of her juice. "How much time do you have?"
Valentin checked his watch. "I have a few hours before I leave, why?"
"Let's go for a walk on the beach."
After the burial at the cemetery, most of the people that attended Lulu's funeral reassembled at the Haunted Star where they celebrated Lulu's life. Everyone shared funny stories about her for the reception.
Dante sat at the bar watching the activities he didn't notice that Sonny came in and sat down next her. "I'm so sorry son, I should have put some guys on her, and she was under my protection."
"It's not your fault, Sonny. It was whoever ordered the hit on Johnny. They are to blame. God help whoever that was because if their identity is ever found out between her brothers and Luke that person wouldn't live long enough to see the next sunrise." Dante said.
"They were always very protective with Lulu in life I shouldn't see why her death wouldn't be the same."
Dante watched as Monica pulled Nikolas to the corner of the casino. They looked like they were in deep conversation. "If you excuse me I need to pay my respects to Nikolas."
Dante slowly made his way to Monica and Nikolas. "Hey I saw you guys talking, what is up? Did you get the DNA results back in?"
Monica shook her head. "Not yet, but they are running the test while we speak. We should get the results back in a few days. I don't want the family to get their hopes up only to have it dashed."
"You think Lulu died in the bombing, don't you?" Dante asked.
Monica shook her head. "I am waiting for the test results to come in before I give my final answer. I loved Lulu. She was a part of my family. If the DNA does not match, I will do all in my power to help you find her."
"I got that covered. My men are waiting on standby to look all over the world to find her," Nikolas said.
"The world is a big place, how would you begin to look?" Dante asked.
"You underestimate me, Dante. I can get anything done for a price," Nikolas said. "Money is no object when it comes to find my baby sister."
After the walk on the beach Lulu showered and changed and met Valentin for some lunch before he left to go to his meeting. She could not shake the feelings she had when she was watching the funeral and saw the good looking Italian man that was walking behind the coffin. It was like she has seen him before. Clearly as much as he tried to distract her, Valentin was keeping things from her. It started with the accident that he claimed that they were in that turned to a car fire that he has no injuries for. Something was not gelling to her. She needed to keep her suspicions to herself because after all they were in an island in the middle of the ocean.
"What you are not hungry?" Valentin asked as he watched Lulu poke at her food on her plate with a fork. "We must have walked a few miles on the beach."
Lulu stopped poking her food and sat back. "I was just thinking, if we were in a car accident, why was I the only one that got hurt? You don't have a scratch on you while I have a head injury that affected my memory I have all sorts of busies, and I have burns. What exactly happened? I wasn't in a car accident at all was I?"
"I hope that I wouldn't have to tell you this," Valentin began. "It wasn't a car accident. It was a car bomb; one of my enemies planted it in the car to kill me. You borrowed the car that day. I followed you out there, thankfully you were still far enough from the car when you pressed the unlock button but not far enough, the force of the blast sent you flying backwards that is when you hit your head. The burns are pretty much self-explained."
Lulu stared at her food, letting what Valentin sink in. "Do you know who did this?" she demanded.
"My men are working on it. Believe me Lulu, once I find out who did this to you, I am going to make them pay," Valentin vowed. "You were in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"Is that what your meeting is about?" Lulu asked. "Meeting with people that will help you find out what happened?"
"Exactly." Valentin rose from his seat. "I better get going. I will be back soon. Hopefully I will have some information to share."
Valentin crossed over to her side of the table and bent to kiss the top of her head. The moment that his lips touched her, Lulu had a memory flash of the man she saw following the coffin. As soon as it came, the memory went away.
"What is it?" Valentin asked, noticing Lulu's change in body language. "Did you remember something?"
He seemed anxious to see if she recalled anything, a little too anxious.
"I just had a memory flash of the explosion. It kind of frightened me," Lulu lied.
Valentin took her hand, squeezing it, "That is what the doctor said that you are going to have memory flashes. Don't let them frighten you. I will be back as soon as I can. If you need anything pick up the phone and tell the servants they will give you whatever you want."
He left her to finish up her lunch. Valentin saw one of his men lurking in the hallway. "If she remembers anything else, get the doctor have him give her something that won't harm the baby. Write down what she remembers and let me have the copy of it so I can deal with it later."
"Yes, sir," his lackey said.
"Whatever she does do not lay a finger on her. If you or anyone else does you are going to pay for it with your life."
His lackey agreed and went to tell the rest of the staff. Valentin looked at Lulu as she turned her attention to the surf outside. Something stirred inside of him. Something that he had not felt for a long time, it seemed to him even though that Lulu only been with him for a couple of days he was developing feelings for her. He also wished that she will never regain any of her memories of her past and stay and have a future with him.
