Episode 9: The Senator

Part 1a):

Taking a sip of her excellent chilled chardonnay Alexis Colby could almost imagine she was at a Denver society party…Well apart from the truly terrible fashion sense of most of the political wives who were liberally scattered about the room in bright clashing pinks silks and electric blue taffeta, which should never be worn by women over thirty! Well certainly not by women who had gotten that much sun over the years at any rate.

Standing at her elbow Jeff Colby cut a dashing figure in his dark tuxedo, his handsome good looks when combined with Alexis's beauty and elegance. Heads had turned when they entered. Clearly Jeff had made waves since his arrival in Canberra; no doubt his current battle against the environmental campaign of Senator Roberts had been the subject on every gossip lips. Alexis's arrival had fanned the flames and now it felt like every eye was on her.

And that was just the way she liked it.

"That's our boy." Jeff whispered before taking a sip of his own wine, nodding his head in the direction of a surprisingly handsome man who had to have been in his mid sixties, a sleek cap of white hair trimmed short, an echo of his earlier military career. At his elbow a neatly dressed woman of around the same age, dressed simply in a navy blue evening gown that was modest and appropriate for her figure, if not a little boring.

"Senator George Roberts, distinguished military career, decorated for bravery during both the Second World War, and then received the Victory Cross and Cross of Valour for his service in Korean. Honourably discharged after picking up an injury to his leg he then moved back home to take over the family business but moved into local politics after his community came under threat by a large mining corporation tried to buy up the land from the farmers for a fraction of its real worth. He took the case all the way to the state governor and won. Since then he's slowly made his way the political ladder, and with this environmental campaign there is a lot of interest some are even tipping him for the next prime ministerial spot."

"How touching." Alexis drawled taking another sip of her wine to quell the nausea that welled up inside her. "And does this paragon have any flaws…Married?"

"Happily for forty years, they have five children, and ten grandchildren." Jeff answered. "He doesn't go anywhere without his wife by his side."

Rolling her eyes Alexis wasn't buying it. No man was this perfect and no marriage either. There simply had to be an angle. "And can he be reasoned with?"

"If by reasoned with you mean bought?" Jeff replied softly. "No I don't think so. The family is comfortable enough and Senator Roberts seems to be a man of simple tastes."

Snorting Alexis couldn't resist adding. "You sound like you admire him Jeffrey?"

"He is a man that many look up to." Jeff answered simply and honestly. "And facing him across the negotiating table I can understand why."

"No wonder you haven't made any progress." Alexis muttered finishing her wine and waving over a passing waiter and handing him her glass. Adjusting her purple dress so that it emphasised the creamy smoothness of her exposed shoulders and just a hint of cleavage Alexis looped her diamond adorned hand through Jeff's elbow.

"Now shall we go meet this paragon of virtue?" She added fixing her most enigmatic and appealing smile on her face. It was show time.

Part 1b):

Fallon Carrington Colby was pissed off.

She had just gotten out of meeting dealing with a rather difficult and demanding client at The Carlton to be presented by a scribbled note from her assistant. Lin had phoned, and reading between the lines of what the ever polite oriental mojodomo had related to her assistant, Lin was enquiring as to how they should be treating their new houseguest, which would have been fine if Fallon had even heard about this guest in the first place!

So as soon as it was possible Fallon got into her car and sped back to the ranch, the wheels all but skidding to a stop on the gravel as Fallon brought it to a sudden stop and stormed up to the house.

Yet as angry as Fallon was the presence of Krystle drifting about was enough to completely throw her and Fallon could only imagine how Alexis would react if she knew in her absence not only was her stud manager inviting strays into her home but that he gave an old rival carte blanche to wander about as she chose. Fallon doubted very much her mother would approve but then Alexis had often wandered about the mansion despite Krystle's objections. The fact that the mansion had once been Alexis's home only slightly negated the fact that she was every time trespassing on Krystle's territory, even if the mansion did house her mother's children and grandchildren, Krystle was officially mistress of the house.

However since the children were at school Fallon couldn't imagine what would bring Krystle here now unless…Jackson…

Fallon tried to contain the spike of jealously that surged up within her, but the idea of her former step-mother and Jackson together…of Jackson preferring Krystle to her just like N…

No forcing that name and the conflicted feelings it still stirred up back down Fallon forced herself to concentrate on there here and now and the real reason she had come home early from work. As irritating and provoking as Krystle's presence was, she wasn't the immediate problem Fallon needed to deal with.

"Oh hello Fallon." Krystle greeted her former step-daughter politely, ever present of the awkward tension that seemed to exist between them since her return to Denver, a tension that no matter what Krystle said or tried to reach out to Fallon seemed to build rather than dissipate…probably due to Fallon's growing closeness to Alexis. "Are you home for lunch?"

"No I had a call from Lin who wanted to know the arrangements for the new houseguest, naturally since I knew nothing about any guest I came home to find out what the hell was going on!" Fallon retorted bluntly not bothering with pleasantries.

"Oh I see." Krystle answered awkwardly.

"You do, you've seen them then?" Fallon demanded her attention now fixed on Krystle since she might have something useful to offer.

Flushing under such intense scrutiny, Fallon's blue eyes narrowing on her like a laser beam, a glare very reminiscent of Alexis the similarity between the pair now undeniable. Krystle could only wonder that it hadn't struck her before how very alike mother and daughter were. Had they always been this similar, or had Krystle simple missed the personality quirks? Had she wanted to believe that Fallon was more Blake's than Alexis's simply because she was his favourite? Or was it just since returning to Denver and this upside world?

"Yes I have seen her." Krystle answered hesitantly.

"Her?" Fallon retorted, eyebrow raised and suspicion growing.

"Yes a young lady who is…umm…" Krystle hesitated unsure how to phrase it politely. "Is heavily pregnant."

"WHAT!" Fallon's screech caught Krystle by surprise and drew attention as a moment later Jackson appeared from down the hallway.

"Hello Fallon…"

"Don't you hello Fallon me!" Fallon snapped cutting off whatever flattery Jackson was going to come up with to get himself out of this one. "What the hell do you think you are playing at Jackson, you can't move one of your floozies into this house. I don't give a damn if she is knocked up, that's your dirty laundry I don't want it in this house and I know damn well Mother will agree!"

"Hey now hold on one second." Jackson cut in hotly. "Jessica is a good girl…It's complicated alright."

"Yeah nine months worth of complicated and I am sure she is really good. Good in bed perhaps. Has to be really something, why else would the man who doesn't do relationships be sticking his neck out." Fallon retorted suggestively ignoring the tightening of Jackson's jaw and the flickering of anger in his cobalt eyes.

"Just not good at birth control, well that is not my problem Jackson. Take your tramp to the nearest motel, she is not staying here I won't have my children exposed to that sort of behaviour!"

"Oh because there own mother is a paragon of virtue and such a fine role model." Jackson drawled sarcastically, his words and tone biting.

"Jackson, Fallon I don't think…" Krystle began trying to diffuse the growing tension between Fallon and Jackson both who were glaring at the other like they might explode, that or rip the other's head off. "This name calling really isn't going to get us anywhere."

"As long it gets that tramp out of my home then that's far enough." Fallon retorted prissily. "And mother will agree with me and it is her house, you are a guest Jackson you can't go moving people in, we aren't a refuge for unwed mothers and your collection of past conquests."

"If she goes I go!" Jackson argued hotly. "Perhaps you can then call Alexis and explain to her why she no longer has a stud manager or a partner?"

"Please you are hardly irreplaceable." Fallon sneered, "God knows why mother got involved with you in the first place…"

"Jealous much Fallon?" Jackson cut in smugly, sarcasm dripping from his tone. "Well go on, go running to Mummy, but I swear you throw that girl out on the street then I will go with her."

For a moment Fallon stared Jackson down, blue eyes meeting blue eyes in a fierce battle, until Fallon sneered. "Fine with me, I'll call Lin to get your bags shall I?" She added calling Jackson on his ultimatum and striding off down the corridor to summon the mojodomo.

"Shit." Jackson muttered running his hands through his dark hair, the fire of his encounter with Fallon suddenly evaporating as the reality of his situation sank in. Glancing back down the corridor where an exhausted Jess was trying to sleep off the effects of her journey and the last few months of hiding her condition from her adopted parents. How could he go back in there now and tell her the safe haven he always promised her was a lie.

Then feeling a soft yet strong hand on his arm Jackson glanced up surprised to meet a pair of eyes full of kindness and compassion. "Krystle what am I going to do, I can't kick Jess out but I can't walk away from this stud, I tied up all my money in this partnership. I could send her to a hotel but the poor kid just got thrown out of one home by people who claimed to love her, she needs kindness and support right now not a sterile hotel suite…"

"Shush it'll be alright, just give Fallon time to calm down she's a kind girl deep down, or perhaps you can call Alexis yourself, tell her your side of the story after all it is her house and if she says Jess can stay…." Krystle answered, the next offer simply falling from her lips as the soft almost hopeful look in Jackson's eyes, so different than the usual cocky arrogance tugged at something inside her. "In the meantime Jess can come and stay at the mansion with me."

"The Carrington Mansion?" Jackson was momentarily bemused, that was a bad idea on so many levels, not to mention the thought of Jessica being in a house owned and occupied by Blake Carrington…Not that Blake would have any idea of the complications and Jess was a smart girl, surely she could keep her head for a few days just until Jackson could make other arrangements.

"If you are certain it would be alright?" Jackson answered hesitantly his relief when Krystle smiled offset slightly by the sense of foreboding that stirred in his gut…

It was only a few days and not even Blake Carrington was that insightful. Jessica would just be under his roof for a brief visit, they would probably hardly meet face to face, she would be in and out in no time, certainly not long enough for Carrington to discover their connection. Certainly not long enough to discover he was about to be become great grandfather for the first time!

Part 2:

"Senator Roberts may I introduce Alexis Colby…Alexis Senator George Roberts and his wife Mrs Stella Roberts."

Politely Senator George Roberts accepted the hand that Alexis offered shaking it lightly before dropping it and sliding his hand back around his diminutive wife's shoulder. "You're reputation proceeds you Mrs Colby, I do believe half the room is already talking about you and the other half is listening."

"But are they saying anything good or bad I wonder?" Alexis replied, somewhat amused by the Senators opening gambit.

Personally Alexis had never been bothered by what people actually thought of her personally, that many thought her a bitch didn't cause her sleepless nights, that was for insecure people. As long as the gossip didn't make it to the front page or damage her stock position Alexis was happy to let people bitch about her to their hearts content, it was mostly jealousy at any rate.

"Probably a little of both if I am being honest." The good Senator replied. "You have certainly livened up our little party with your presence, your donation was most generous…Although I didn't realise International Development was such a keen interest of yours?" He added pointedly.

"I have a keen interest in many things Senator Roberts, I am more than simply a business woman, I am a mother, a grandmother and a philanthropist. I personally and my company Colby Co support many worthy causes."

"Even environmental?" The Senator's meek little wife piped up her dark blue eyes narrowing on their flashy interloper, but Alexis shrugged aside her barb without flinching. Like she would take criticism seriously from someone who dressed like Mrs Roberts did in public.

"Indeed Colby Co is one of the major founders and contributors to the Colorado National Park programme." Alexis retorted smugly. "However more than just philanthropic reasons brought me here tonight…"

"We know why you are here Mrs Colby."

"Please call me Alexis…"

"You are now the controlling shareholder for Denver Carrington are you not?" Senator Roberts continued on as if Alexis hadn't spoken his light blue eyes narrowing on her face.

Shrugging casually Alexis answered simply, reaching out to capture a flute of champagne from a passing waiter. "For my sins, yes. I bought the shares from my ex-husband who hoped I might be able to salvage the company that is our children's birthright. I have my family and all the Denver Carrington stockholders interests to look after, can you really blame me for wanting to help?"

"Help or influence?" Senator Roberts queried. "If you are here in the hopes of influencing my political decisions Mrs Colby then I am afraid you have had a wasted trip. Just as you have you family and stockholders to think about I have my constituents to look after and I wouldn't be doing my job as their representative if I didn't pursue justice for them."

Smiling tightly Alexis took a sip of her champagne, meeting and holding the good Senator's gaze before replying softly yet with a hint of steel to her tone. "Justice or a witch-hunt Senator?"

Flinching at Alexis's insinuation Senator Robert's face flushed. "There is more than enough solid evidence of Denver Carrington negligence."

"Really…" Alexis drawled, drawing out her words. "I thought there was more than enough evidence of the Tanker Captain's negligence, yet since even the FBI haven't been able to prove any senior executive ordered him to leave the shipping lane and since the poor man died, I fail to see how you can prove any deliberate intent or carelessness on Denver Carrington's part?"

"It was your oil raping the landscape!" Mrs Roberts hissed. "Your responsibility to clean up your mess."

"And we have been." Alexis answered simply. "Denver Carrington has funded all the clean up operations. I am not disputing the consequences Mrs Roberts merely trying to ensure the truth about what really happened doesn't get lost because it would political expedient to find a convenient scapegoat, and who better than a faceless foreign corporation. Except for the fact that Denver Carrington isn't just men and women in business suits it is men and women on the ground with livelihoods of their own and families to feed… "

"And what about the livelihoods you have ruined, fishermen and divers put out of work, not the mention the environmental cost and damage to one of the worlds greatest ecological treasures, do you really expect to get away Scott free?" Stella added hotly glancing across at her silent husband for support, at once highlighting to Alexis who the real driver was behind Senator Roberts's sudden interest in the Denver Carrington Question.

The power behind the man who had been driving the committee to reject Jeff's reasonable compensation offers, insisting that Denver Carrington accept criminal negligence first and so opening themselves up to a potentially damaging prosecution that could drag on for years and years and never be settled. Well Alexis needed this case settled now not years down the line, every week that the Australian government delayed, every time they sent back Denver Carrington's propositions for compensations Frank Dobson and his mysterious Mr Davenport edged nearer and nearer to taking over Denver Carrington. Already the board members were getting restless and Jeff wouldn't have dragged her halfway around the world if he wasn't getting desperate.

"I have never said we are opposed to compensating the victims of this terrible tragedy." Alexis answered sincerely; forcing down her amusement at the way the older woman seemed to vibrate with righteous anger. If anything it was even more unattractive than that unflattering off the rack gown she was wearing.

"This was a terrible tragic accident and no one should be made to suffer for it, but to accept criminal negligence like your husband keeps campaigning…" Alexis trailed off shaking her head before lifting her large emerald eyes once more to meet Senator Roberts steely blue gaze.

"I am not here to fight you Senator Roberts, I want to help us find a way forward from this tragedy; a way that will ensure the victims of this accident are compensated in a way that builds for their futures without destroying the livelihoods of a lot of hardworking and decent American families in the process. You are a reasonable and compassionate man Senator, who I am sure grew up seeing communities dependant on one main employer for their livelihood and I am sure you saw with your own eyes what happens in those employers suddenly vanish. Unemployment leads to poverty and a terrible trap that affects every man woman and child in that community for generations. In many places around the world Denver Carrington is that employer, we have thousands of families dependant on us, children whose future indirectly rests in my hands and now in yours as well."

Alexis watched the conflict play over the Senator's face, as out of the corner of her eye she could make out the bemusement on Jeff's face. Naturally Jeff had believed the worst that Alexis would rely on blackmail or bribery to make her case, always believing the worst. Clearly Jeff had spent too many years listening to Blake rant nonsense about her. True Alexis was always prepared to use those tools and she already had irons in the fire just in case, but Jeff always overlooked the most deadly weapon in Alexis's arsenal, her disarming charm and ability to act completely sincere.

Senator Roberts had undoubtedly prepared himself for her less than savoury attacks with a dozen or so cutting remarks and self righteous sermons. In fact giving her reputation Alexis doubted the man had even considered she might attempt the honest impassioned plea. He had hadn't expected it, so he hadn't prepared a defence against it and Alexis had had him on the backfoot the moment she started her case.

Play the innocent damsel in distress, paint yourself the wronged heroine or the repentant sinner and a good man would fall over his own feet to help you. Men like Senator Roberts…Men like Blake or even Dex couldn't help themselves, couldn't stop themselves from wanting to play the hero or Alexis's knight in shining armour. And stimulating that desire…that need to come to her aid had always been Alexis's most deadly weapon.

"George you can't possibly…"

"Alright I am listening Mrs Colby." Senator Roberts answered softly ignoring his wife's muffled protest. "Mr Colby perhaps you would be so kind as to ask my wife to dance, I have two left feet and Stella rarely has the pleasure of dancing without having her toes stepped on."

Nodding politely Jeff offered his arm to Mrs Roberts who with a pointed glare at her husband reluctantly accepted and stepped stiffly into Jeff's arms.

"Alright Mrs Colby you have my attention, say I believe you to be genuine, just what did you have in mind?"

Smiling sweetly Alexis slipped her hand into the crook of the Senator's elbow, drawing him away from the hubbub of the main party and out on to the terrace where the warm breeze was pleasantly refreshing after the crush of the hall.

"An independently managed compensation fund for victims, the total amount to be negotiated based on the number of claims already filed and our insurers assessments. I might suggest setting up a panel of independent experts, a mixture of insurers, politicians and legal counsel to assess each claim on its merits." Alexis replied watching as the Senator frowned but eventually nodded.

"That seems reasonable but it could take some time to set up and begin to compensate the victims." He muttered. "Perhaps you might consider providing a smaller provisional payout to those most keenly affected whilst their claim is being properly assessed, something to cover their living costs and provide for their families?"

"That sounds fair." Alexis answered softly whilst inwardly she crowed, provisional payments that could be eked out over the longer financial term would have less impact on this years profits and would eventually end up being deducted from the total amount awarded; lessoning the final bill Denver Carrington would have to pay. Plus it would avoid any more of those damaging press stories!

"And of course you would have to continue to cover all the clean up costs?"

"Of course." Alexis replied all innocence and earnestness. "Denver Carrington is not an unethical company Senator Roberts and until this disaster it had one of the finest safety records…Not quite as good as Colby Co's of course." Alexis added her lips twitching into a beguiling smile.

"You seem sincere…"

"Oh we are." Alexis insisted. "We don't intend to run away or shirk our responsibilities Senator but I cannot in good conscience allow Denver Carrington to become bankrupted as a result of this accident. Yet the longer this matter drags on the further our share price drops making us vulnerable to hostile takeovers from less scrupulous organisations. And if Denver Carrington cannot pay its way how on earth will we be able to compensate those in need. Then everyone looses. If only there was some way to help speed up the process?"

Sighing Senator Roberts was forced to admit. "You may have a point. However I am but one man Mrs Colby…"

"Please call me Alexis. Mrs Colby makes me sound cold and implacable. We are none of us really what gossip reports us to be, I have a reputation for being ruthless I know but that was only when circumstances force me to be. I was thrown into the oil business after my husband Cecil's death and it is a cut throat world with precious few friends to help you and I would very much like it if we could be friends." Alexis insisted resting her free hand on his arm and watching as George wavered before conceding, every moment more firmly under her spell.

"I will do what I can to help you M…Alexis." George amended with a bashful smile. "However I am but one man and the other members of the committee will also need to be convince by your argument. How about I arrange for you to come and present your proposal directly to the committee instead off all this paper shuffling by lawyers?"

Smiling brightly Alexis squeezed the Senator's arm for a moment before letting go and pulling back, amused when the man unconsciously seemed to lean towards her. "That sounds perfect George thank you. You know you underestimate yourself I am sure, you are far too modest!"

"I am merely one man…an old man doing what he can for his country."

"You are not old!" Alexis insisted fluttering her eyelashes. "You're still in your prime, why you've had Jeff on a short leash and quaking in his boots."

"He is a fine young man, a little green perhaps." George answered simply. "And I suppose I had better go and relieve him, I believe my wife will be wanting to head home…It is getting late."

"Is it? I am still on Denver time but before you leave I insist on a dance…No I insist…" Alexis added when George began to protest.

"If you must." Senator Roberts replied with a resigned air. "But I wasn't kidding earlier about my dancing prowess, your toes may never forgive me!"

Smiling sweetly as she leaned closer, deliberately giving the Senator a prime view of her pert cleavage which to his credit he tried and failed valiantly not to stare at, Alexis lowered her voice to a husky whisper. "Don't worry about a thing George you're in the hands of an expert, I always make sure to be a two steps ahead just follow my lead…"

Part 3a):

"Dex there is nothing here!"

Sighing Dex put down the sheaf of papers he was examining for the umpteenth time at the sound of his sister's whine. Marin may have sounded more like the sulky spoilt child he remembered than a grown woman whose judgement he could trust, but she wasn't exactly wrong about their search, they really hadn't found anything of use…And the deadline was fast approaching.

"I know…Let's take a break get some lunch…Maybe something will come to us…"

Snorting Marin couldn't help her sarcastic reply. "I never took you for a Polly-Anna Dex!"

Chuckling at his sisters surprisingly amusing comment Dex dropped the dusty papers and leant back against the bureau he had been searching through. "Ok you may have a point…If there was anything to be found in here we would have come across it already…How are you coming with the letters, anything there?"

Dex had delegated the task of reading through their parents love letters to Marin, there was only so much sentimental sap he could stomach reading before his balls shrivelled up and fell off turning him from Dexter to Dextrina. Besides Marin seemed to jump at the chance to be useful, something that had initially surprised him.

Yet the longer he spent in this draftee museum of a house, rattling about the empty rooms with only Marin and a couple of staff members for company, Dex could begin to understand the reason for his sisters sudden helpfulness…She was lonely…

Dex had his son, and depending on her mood or whim of the week he most often than not had Alexis; he lived in a house full of people…Not necessarily people he liked all the time but he was never alone. Didn't his sister have any friends?

Once upon a time Dex could remember the endless streams of teenage girls underfoot, their mooning faces ogling him whenever he came home on leave. Marin had certainly had a thriving social life in college but since then…Had she truly given up that much of her life in the last few years caring for their ailing father?

Dex felt a pang of guilt. A pang that intensified as he suddenly realised Marin had been answering his earlier question and he hadn't even been listening.

"…So anyway it seems grandfather must have gotten over his objections because Mother doesn't mention any more quarrels in her letters…Oh and then there weren't anymore letters just a telegram from the war office about shipping Dad home to a military hospital somewhere upstate…"

"Military hospital?" Dex questioned suddenly intrigued. "What was Sam Dexter doing in a hospital?"

Shrugging Marin glanced down at the missive in her hands. "Don't ask me it just said injured in combat to be transferred from the Mission Hospital in Paris to some Army hospital in Boston."

"Let me see that." Dex muttered all but snatching the telegram from his sisters hands and squinting down at the typed script that did indeed say exactly what his sister had said. "But this doesn't make any sense…Why didn't he ever tell us about this?"

Being injured by enemy fire was certainly not the picture of Sam Dexter's war that Dex had always been drawn. His grandfather had implied that Sam had spent the war with the engineering corps and as such hadn't really been a solider at all, but if Sam hadn't been a coward, if he really hade been injured in battle then why had he put up with his father's jibes…why hide the fact that he had been wounded in the line of duty?

Running his hand through his dark hair Dex restrained himself from tugging on it, between stress and Alexis it was already thinning on top, and since Dex had no desire to go bald before fifty at the earliest he had better start taking care now.

"We are getting more questions and no answers." Dex huffed. "At this rate we are never going to find what we need."

Rolling her eyes at her brother's dramatics Marin picked at the loose thread on the carpet. "Dex playing Devil's advocate here why don't you just pay up the five million and be done with it, you'll get the answer soon enough when you get the rest of that letter."

"And how can I be certain it is genuine?" Dex spat back his handsome face darkening. "How do I know for certain that five million will be the end of it, blackmailers are not known for keeping their word, soon it will be another five then ten…I don't have endless funds to pay out just to keep this out of the press. Besides I have better uses for my money than paying out to scum, I need to match whatever investment Blake puts into our new company; I can't risk being squeezed out by my own partner."

"Alright." Marin insisted holding up her hands in surrender to cut off her brother's tirade. "Well since you have made your mind up there is really only one other thing to do…One other person who might know the answer, she seems to take pride in knowing everybody's business but hell if it was me five million seems like a bargain price by comparison!"

Groaning as the pieces fell into place Dex could only groan in horror. "Great Aunt Josephine."

Part 3b):

"And then this little piggy went to market and this little piggy ran all the way home…"

Blake Carrington was not a man accustomed to play, as child he had abandoned games for a job as soon as someone would employ him, and as a father the first time around he had been too busy building his empire to sit on the floor and play with his young children. However now in the autumn of his life Blake found it surprisingly pleasurable to set down his dull and grinding paperwork if only for a brief spell and play with his daughter.

Just to hear Krystina's excited childish laughter as he tickled her made Blake feel young again.

It somehow didn't matter quite so much that he had a pile of paperwork of epic proportions still waiting for his attention, it wasn't going anywhere as without Dexter cosignatory Blake was all but dead in the water anyway. Still Blake had made some progress today, even if he couldn't approve the purchase orders, he had been in touch with a rental company about leasing some office space and had contacted and agency about obtaining some secretarial support. And the prospect of no longer having to type his own letters and memos was more than enough to make Blake smile.

"Daddy can we play hide and seek…I'll hide you count to a hundred then come and find me?"

Smiling indulgently Blake nodded watching as his youngest child scampered off like an eager puppy. Blake by contrast took a little longer to raise himself off of the floor, his old bones aching from the unaccustomed romping, reminding him that although he may have felt young and alive was now nearer to his dotage than his childhood.

Glancing at his watch Blake brushed out the creases in his trousers. It was getting late, not late late but later than Krystle usually got home. Normally she went and picked Krystina up from school and came straight home, but instead Krystle had phoned Gerard and asked him to have Krystina picked up by the town car.

Yet it wasn't the change of plans that had Blake perplexed, things came up, plans had to be changed and it was just as easy for Blake's driver to pick Krystina up as it was for Krystle…It was more the fact that Krystle hadn't said why or when she might actually be home that had Blake concerned.

Glancing down at his watch again it became clear that more than 100 seconds had passed and Blake had better start seeking before Krystina became impatient and made him hide. The memories of planning Sardines at one of the old house parties was more than enough to put Blake off trying to hide in a dark cramped space ever again…

Although if he recalled things correctly he had actually been rather enjoying the game when it was just Alexis who had found him and joined him in one of the guest wardrobes…It was only when Sam and Mavis and several other of the old crowd had also found them and squeezed into the too small space whilst Blake tried to calm himself down that he began to go off the idea.

Shaking himself out of that somewhat debauched memory Blake couldn't quiet shift the smirk off of his face as he began to search for his daughter. However stepping out into the hallway Blake suddenly found all thought of finding Krystina vanish as he stood in stunned amazement as Gerard began up the staircase carrying two large suitcases.

Yet it that stunned Blake to momentary dumbness the two figures following in Gerard's footsteps damn near stole his breath as well.

Krystle and another woman…young lady…a very young and very pregnant young lady…following her luggage up his staircase and undoubtedly into one of his guest rooms…

Shaking off his momentary stupor Blake strode quickly into the entrance hall and took the stairs as quickly as his feet would let him. Breathing only slightly heavier as he reached the top Blake reached out and grasped Krystle's elbow.

"Dear God Blake you startled me!" Krystle exclaimed raising her hand to calm her racing heart.

"The feeling is mutual I assure you." Blake replied his dark eyes flickering from Krystle to take the measure of the young lady standing a few feet away, her own dark brown eyes meeting his gaze with surprising courage. "Perhaps you would care to introduce me?"

Swallowing uncomfortably Krystle could tell Blake was angry but that in front of their guest he was doing his best to be civil. Yet this was not how she had wanted Blake to find out, Krystle had hoped to have Jessica safely resting in her room when she broke the news to Blake. He wasn't likely to be thrilled about the prospect of a stranger moving into his house and so Krystle had wanted to break the news to him gently…

Something that had spectacularly backfired!

"Blake this is Jessica…Jessica my h…former husband Blake Carrington." Krystle added blushing at her almost slip, stubbling slightly over her next words. "Jessica needed a place to stay for a while and so I invited her."

"Pleased to meet you sir." Jessica answered softly and Blake could hear the twang of a southern accent. "I just want to say thank you for your hospitality upfront…I know you probably don't really want me here…I am sure it won't be for long just until Jackson sorts something out."

Jackson.

Now the pieces were falling into place.

The damn gigolo getting a girl young enough to be his own daughter in trouble and then foisting her off on to others to deal with…Not that it was the girls fault but dammit didn't Krystle think before embroiling herself into other people's dramas. Now they were stuck right in the middle and even Blake Carrington wasn't bastard enough to throw a pregnant girl out on to the street.

Forcing a tight smile Blake nodded at the girls genuine thanks, his anger melting slightly as he gazed into her frightened face, young slight and pretty, dark eyes framed with a halo of blonde hair she looked exhausted as though a strong wind would blow her over and Blake couldn't help but feel protective.

In a way she reminded him a little of Amanda…

There was something in her lost and overwhelmed expression that reminded him of the twenty year old who had come to Denver and clung to him for support as she searched desperately for the truth about her father and battled through the emotional minefield of establishing a relationship with her mother. However Amanda had grown up. In the end Blake's fatherly protectiveness had stifled her, she had rebelled and pushed him away before running away from Denver and her Carrington family all initial effort to remain in contact rebuffed.

Blake had damn near almost destroyed his special relationship with Fallon just as easily, and now even months after the split for Alexis the rift between them still wasn't fully healed. Of his daughters only Krystina remained Daddy's little girl…And how long would that last? How long before she grew up and no longer needed her father?

"You are welcome Jessica…Perhaps you would like to settle in before dinner, Gerard will show you down when it is time."

Waiting until the girl had vanished and the door closed behind her Blake turned to the silent Krystle allowing his expression to convey what he dare not say aloud. Turning on his heel before he lost what handle he had on his control Blake stormed back down the corridor and down the staircase, ignoring Krystle calling his name. Right now he had no desire to hear her excuses…Nor did he have any lingering appetite for dinner.

There was only one thing on Blake Carrington's mind and that was letting Jackson Hobbs have a piece of it!

Part 3c):

Alexis Colby was not amused.

Things had been going so well for her, Senator Roberts had proven susceptible to her charms and arguments when separated from that dull drab wife of his, in fact when Alexis had finally retired to bed in the small hours of the morning she hadn't bothered to unpack more than the essentials…With any luck her stay in this dreary little city might be of shorter duration than even Alexis had dared hope.

She should have known things were going too smoothly and that Karma was about to make her pay big time.

This first sign that things were about to take a dive-bomb was that damn phone call.

Alexis had barely gotten off to sleep when the telephone had begun to screech shrilly in her ear. Groaning Alexis had turned over to slap Dex and force him to answer it. It was only when her hand slapped down on an empty pillow that reality began to sink in.

She wasn't at the ranch and Dex was hundred of thousands of miles away…So the only person who could shut that damn racket up was her.

Groaning as she blinked her eyes open her scowl deepening as she caught sight of the time on her bedside clock Alexis's mood had soured to epic proportions before she had even picked up the receiver, whoever was the idiot on the other end was about to get hell.

"Hello!" Alexis snapped, growling her annoyance.

"Mummy thank goodness you are in I tried earlier and…"

"Fallon do you know what the time is here, it's three in the morning I just got to bed!" Alexis hissed before a flash of panic set in, what if something was wrong with the children, Jack, Dex? "What's wrong is it Jack…The Children?"

"Oh sorry Mummy, no we're all fine, well I assume Jack is fine he's in Wyoming with Dex… I guess I just forgot about the time difference and I needed to speak to you…Look I…"

"This isn't an emergency?" Alexis huffed her panic giving way to anger. "Then good night Fallon."

"But Mummy it's Jackson he wants to move some pregnant little tramp in…"

Yawning Alexis barely feigned interest. "Fallon just deal with it, you're in charge alright don't bother me about trivialities at four in the morning! Now I am going back to sleep Good Night!" Setting the phone down before her daughter could babble on and on and ruin any chance of her getting back to sleep. However a momentary thought did flicker through her sleep deprived mind, where Fallon led Jackson would follow…

Groaning Alexis pushed 0 for the hotel reception, fortunately it was promptly answered by the receptionist who sounded far too damned cheerful for Alexis's tastes.

"Reception this is Caroline how can I be of assistance?"

Resisting the urge to roll her eyes and comment that the receptionist could be of assistance by abandoning her perky Polly-Anna routine Alexis instead infused her distaste into her tone.

"This is Mrs Colby in the presidential suite you can be of assistance by NOT putting through anymore calls to my suite until a civilised hour, instead please ask any callers to leave a message unless it is a case of bodily harm or a catastrophe of international proportions! Unless of course note taking isn't a skill they teach you when they hand over that ugly and unflattering uniform?"

For a moment there was a stunned silence and then a choked almost tearful. "Yes I'll be sure to…"

Yet Alexis didn't bother to listen to the rest of the girl's sentence, she had the agreement she was looking for and so she dumped the receiver back onto the phone. One last glance at the clock and it's mocking numbers gloated back 4.34…God she had to be up in little over three hours.

What had possessed her to invite Senator Roberts to a breakfast meeting? Lunch would have been more than adequate.

At this rate the man would turn up, take one look at Alexis's pale tired face with bags under her eyes that would probably be the size of saucers and back out their agreement so fast you would see the smoke from under his heels.

In the end when Alexis had dragged herself out of bed in the morning her face hadn't looked quite as bad as she had first feared. And what bags there were had been cunningly hidden by makeup. Stifling her yawn behind a large cup of coffee, Alexis tried to force herself to wake up.

Finally there was a knock on her suite door and pasting a beguiling smile on to her face Alexis moved to answer it, her smile slipping slightly when instead of Senator Roberts pleasant face staring back at her it was the somewhat less welcoming and decidedly less impressed Stella Roberts.

And that was all the sign Alexis needed…Today was really not going to be a good one!

Part 4a):

"Mrs Roberts I am surprised, I was expecting your husband." Alexis managed after finding her balance once more. Clearly the senator's wife had intended to throw her off balance by simply turning up but Alexis was too experienced to let her distaste show through her showface and so Alexis grudgingly let her guest into her suite.

"Oh I know." Stella Roberts answered tartly. "However my husband had a more pressing engagement to attend with the Prime Minister and so I offered to come instead…We have one or two things to discuss Mrs Colby."

"We do?" Alexis answered innocently yet even she could contain a tinge of sarcasm from entering her tone as Stella Roberts put herself front and centre and in Alexis's way. "I have business with your husband Mrs Roberts, forgive me if I fail to understand what I would need to discuss with an un-elected housewife."

Clearly that taunt hit home as Stella Roberts smug expression vanished and her cheeks tightened as if slapped. "A wife of a Senator Mrs Colby."

Smiling sweetly Alexis's retort could have been coated in poison it was intent to prove fatal. "Yes but it is your husband who was elected to represent, your husband who was appointed by the Prime Minister to head the committee, and it is your husband and not you Mrs Roberts with who I am prepared to negotiate and discuss confidential information with; information that you are not authorised to see if I am correct?"

"And what sort of negotiations do you carry out in your hotel room Mrs Colby?" Stella retorted sharply her blue eyes raking up and down Alexis's neatly dressed figure; the blue fitted business suit hugged every curve.

"I mean I had heard you used usual negotiating techniques but I had assumed they were exaggerations, a woman who has reached such a position surely wouldn't need to lower herself to…to…" Stella broke off her nose crinkling in disgust. "However now that I have met you in person I am not sure I would put anything beneath you Mrs Colby. In fact I imagine that is the favourite position for your victims before you…"

"Before I what Mrs Roberts, no need to be coy now, cards on the table." Alexis answered tartly sizing up the petite woman in front of her, who despite her appalling dress sense, the beige shift dress she had on today deserved to be taken out and burned in ritual protest as an affront to fashion; still the woman had guts something Alexis normally would have admired…If she wasn't standing in the way of something she wanted.

"You don't want me near your husband? Right?" Alexis added not waiting for the other woman to answer. "Well the sooner this compensation business is sorted the sooner I will return to Denver, so surely it is in your interest to assist me Mrs Roberts…"

"Assist you destroy my husbands reputation!" Stella spat. "My husband is a good man, an honest man, but when it comes to something he is naïve…He actually believes you are here to help, that you care about the poor men and women you employ! Fortunately some of us are no so blind, you are here to protect your own investment nothing more nothing less. Well I won't let you use my husband's good nature to your advantage and ruin his career."

"I have no interest in ruining your husband's career." Alexis answered honestly. "In fact I can only see good things coming for him from our collaboration…No I think the real reason you are here Mrs Roberts is that you are afraid…afraid of loosing control…Well that isn't my problem…Now if you don't mind I at least actually have work to do so if you don't mind."

At least Mrs Roberts seemed capable of taking that hint and with a barely concealed glare of disgust she turned and stormed out of Alexis's suite, slamming the door for good measure.

Letting out the huff she had been suppressing Alexis couldn't help but be concerned. Stella Roberts was a wild card and matters were too delicate to let someone with that much influence run around souring her deal. Yet Alexis didn't know her opponent well enough to be able to guess her next move…She needed insider knowledge and assistance and there wasn't time to find that sort contact for herself.

Grudgingly there seemed to be only one option available to her.

Walking back into her bedroom Alexis flicked through the filofax next to the bed, until she came upon the card she was looking for, at the time she had accepted it she hadn't really intended to call…not even if she had been a little tempted. After all Alexis had half expected to see him at the soiree the night before in any case but there had been no sign of him all night. He certainly didn't play the game by any rules that Alexis recognised but a maverick was precisely what she needed right now, her own unexpected ace in the hole.

Picking up the receiver Alexis punched in the numbers before she could come to her sense and change her mind. A moment later the call connected. "I'd like to speak to Mr Ethan Hailsworth, tell him Alexis Colby is calling he'll know what it is about…"

Part 4b):

Blake Carrington couldn't sleep. This wasn't in itself a new condition. Blake had on and off over the years suffered form bouts of insomnia, normally triggered by yet another crisis with Denver Carrington.

Yet this time it wasn't so much business problems weighing on his mind but rather that there was something about his earlier confrontation with Jackson Hobbs that kept playing on his mind…As if there was something more behind what Jackson had said…It was almost as if he was trying to put together a puzzle with plenty of missing pieces and no box to guide him.

So in this case it was not knowing that was keeping Blake awake and lying in the dark staring up at the ceiling wasn't helping any.

Grunting Blake pulled back the covers and swung his feet out of bed, for a moment he sat on the edge of his mattress staring out into the gloom, it seemed sitting up failed to bring any moment of clarity either!

Things had seemed so straight forward earlier when he had stormed over to Colby Acres, once again ignored the ban Alexis had imposed on him stepping foot on her property…After all how many times had Alexis ignored his own directives to stay out of the mansion? Not once!

In fact by the time Blake had finished the drive over in the Porsche speeding most of the way he had worked himself up into quite the righteous fury. He hadn't even waited for Lin to greet him properly before demanding,

"Where is Jackson?"

However clearly Alexis's mojodomo was well accustomed to dealing with hot headed and intemperate customers as he politely ignored Blake's rude opening, "Welcome Mr Carrington, Mr Hobbs is currently in his office over in the stud if you would like to wait in the sitting room I could call…"

"And give him enough time to run away!" Blake snorted. "No I think I'll go surprise him, turn about is fair enough!"

By the time Blake made it over to the stable block, only slightly out of breath which at least proved his morning swim regime was having some positive effect, Lin could have course have phoned Jackson who would have had ample time to escape. So Blake was pleasantly surprised when on following the directions of a somewhat skittish stable hand he stomped up the stairs to Jackson's office his quarry was still there, and absently flicking through a stock catalogue.

However on hearing his door slam open Jackson's attention was firmly on his visitor and for a moment Blake could have sworn there was a look of fear and panic that crossed Jackson's face before his expression shuttered causing Blake to wonder if he had imagined the whole thing. "Mr Carrington a pleasure how can I help…Interested in a racehorse perhaps?"

"I don't find your attempt at humour particularly funny Mr Hobbs and you know precisely why I am here!"

"Jessica."

"Yes Jessica. The poor young lady you have off loaded onto my family."

Clearly that was precisely the right thing to say if Blake wanted to evoke Jackson's rarely seen temper.

"I didn't offload anyone, Krystle offered to let Jessica stay in order to stop me leaving my home and my partnership!" Jackson answered hotly slamming the stock book down onto his desk for good measure.

"But I suppose as usual you didn't bother to ask before jumping to conclusions Carrington…My how wonderful it must be to be Blake Carrington the righteous, knowing the truth in every situation without even the inconvenience of needing to ask questions like the rest of us mere mortals."

Gritting his teeth Blake tried not to react to the insult…Fine perhaps he did have a tendency to leap before he looked on occasion but that didn't change the fact that this Jessica was under his roof and not Jackson's.

"Don't go changing the subject Mr Hobbs, now I want to know just what you intend to do, you have a responsibility to do by right by that girl…poor thing is barely more than a child…she needs someone to look out for her and since she is now under my roof then that makes her my responsibility. So I am asking, since she doesn't seem to have a father willing to come here and stand up to you, are you going to do right by this girl and her child…your child!"

"Woah!" Jackson exclaimed raising his hands in surrender. "Hold on their Carrington take a step back from that assumption you made a flying leap at. That isn't my child!"

"What…"

"Jessica is not a conquest." Jackson continued ignoring the look of confusion and disbelief on Blake's face as he ploughed on. "She is my god daughter, I helped find her adoptive parents after her mother died back when she was just a baby. I had grown up with her father and when he abandoned them I stepped in to help. Then her mother died and I couldn't raise her so I found a couple who were willing. They were a little older so most agencies weren't interested and then even though I was little more than a teenager myself at the time they were grateful enough that they named me her godfather."

"But…I thought…"

"Oh I know what you thought Carrington." Jackson snapped back. "But since you would hardly be the first one to jump to that conclusion considering my reputation I suppose I can let that one go! Part of me is even a little impressed that you would come over here to look out for a girl you've only just met; if I didn't suspect that this little trip had more to do with that liaison between me and Alexis that your jealously made up!" He added generously walking over to the sideboard where he kept his bourbon pouring himself one before offering one to the stunned Blake.

Accepting the strong liquor Blake slumped into the seat opposite the desk as Jackson continued to lean lazily against the wall. "There really is nothing going on between Alexis and me by the way; not that it would be any of your business if there were, well other than the fact you are still in love with the woman." Jackson muttered ironically.

"I know she told me…" Blake answered gruffly taking a sip of his drink to cover his less than truthful reply.

"Yes and I am sure you believed her straight away?" Jackson snorted able to pick apart Blake's half-truths. "You two sure are a piece of work, you can't love together, you can't live apart…Alexis gets just as jealous as you do Blake she's just much better at hiding it, well from you at least."

Choosing to ignore that particular piece of information Blake tried to regain control of the conversation, sitting there and having a virtual stranger pick apart his character faults and relationship problems like some sort of shrink was unnerving. "So Jessica…"

"What about her?" Jackson answered knowingly his blue eyes twinkling.

"Why did you come here, what happened to her parents…her adoptive parents I mean?" Blake clarified when Jackson seemed to tense at his first question.

"They got old." Jackson answered simply staring down into his glass. "Peter her father died of a heart attack when he was seventy-five Jess was only fifteen, then a few years Claire her mother started to develop dementia, she's been in a home the last three years, she doesn't even recognise Jess anymore. Poor kid hasn't had it easy, I tried to be there but with all the travelling for work it wasn't like she could live with me, besides she is an adult. I tried to keep her in school paid for her tuition but she dropped out and moved in with her jerk of a boyfriend."

The disgust in his tone told Blake all he needed to know about why the father of the child was not about to step up and provide support.

"So you're all the family she has left?" Blake muttered to himself looking at the younger man before him with an appraising eye, perhaps Jackson Hobbs had redeeming qualities after all no matter how well hidden. "What about her natural father, hasn't he ever provided for her?"

Clearly that was the wrong thing to say as Jackson's tanned face blanched and his fingers tightened on the glass. Blake watched as the younger man took a heavy draw on the alcohol. "I haven't seen Jess's father in twenty five years and if I did I would struggle not to put a bullet in the back of his head. The man is scum, Jess was better off not knowing him."

That was a definite no then.

"Look Carrington I am grateful for your help in this, believe me the last thing I would want is Jess under your roof!" Jackson grumbled lifting his eyes to meet Blake's dark gaze. "Jess is my family, she doesn't need yours but I am stuck…I have a contract with Alexis, I have business I have invested all my money into…I am not a man accustomed to having to ask for help but Jess is more important than my pride…"

"Miss Jessica is welcome to stay in my house for as she needs." Blake answered, cutting Jackson off before he was reduced to grovelling. "It would be my pleasure. She seems a lovely young lady and she hasn't had the easiest time of it, and as Krystle already has her under her wing and I doubt even if both of us wanted to change that I doubt we could manage it." Blake added with a chuckle, relieved when Jackson managed to crack a small smile.

So it was it was somewhat confusing when Blake's next sentence, meant to calm and reassure Jackson seemed to have the opposite effect. It was that reaction combined with the dose of reality about Alexis that now had Blake staring into the gloom of his bedroom unable to sleep.

Really he had only meant to be polite not step on Jackson's toes…

"We would be happy to have her stay as long as she needs, I'll talk to her later or have Krystle talk to her, reassure her that we don't think of her stay as an imposition but that while she is with us she should think of herself and we will treat her just like part of the family."

Part 5a):

"You know normally when I call and let someone know that I want to see them most people have the sense to jump to it…" Alexis drawled her emerald eyes narrowing as Ethan Hailsworth had the nerve to smirk as he leant casually against the doorframe. "Most people don't keep me waiting half the day." She added enthusing her distaste into her tone.

"Well I am not one of your lackeys Alexis, I come and go as I choose, I help who I choose when I choose." Ethan answered smoothly his dark eyes raking in appreciation over the elegant black evening dress, the chiffon fabric skimming lightly over Alexis's curves, the uneven neckline exposing one creamy shoulder whilst the other peeked out teasingly from underneath the slashed fabric.

"Well too bad for you!" Alexis huffed. "Now if you don't mind I am meeting Jeff for dinner. However if you would care to wait until I get back…"

"Wrong I am taking you to dinner Colby can find himself some pretty little bimbo, there are plenty in the bar that should suit his tastes." Ethan cut in ignoring the way Alexis's eyes flashed warningly. "You're the one who wanted to talk Alexis."

Huffing Alexis was torn. Dinner with Ethan would no doubt be entertaining; it had been quite some time since she had engaged in flirting over dinner and discussion of metaphorical political assassinations. The prospect of clashing sabres with someone equally skilled in that arena was tempting…and yet Ethan had kept her waiting and that was an unforgivable crime.

"I have no interest in discussing my private affairs in public Ethan however I could spare you a few minutes now…" Alexis insisted standing back from the door she allowed an amused Ethan to enter.

"Normally I wouldn't have called you at all, things of such a sensitive delicate nature I prefer to take of personally using people I know and can trust…" Or that Alexis had enough dirt on so they wouldn't dare double cross her. "However there is something of a time constraint involved here and nothing is gained without taking on a little risk."

"Why choose to take a risk on me, somehow I don't think it's because you trust me Alexis?"

"I have to trust someone." Alexis answered simply surprising Ethan if his slight flinch was anything to go by. "Besides you have gone through a lot of effort to court my attention, you had to have a reason, if you really want me to trust you Ethan perhaps you should start by telling me why? Why did you send me that painting, the rosette and those little notes?"

"Because I wanted to catch your attention." Ethan answered softly his dark eyes locked on Alexis's as her emeralds narrowed in suspicion.

"To what end?"

Snorting at her distrustful tone Ethan answered teasingly. "To no end, to see if it would work, to amuse myself perhaps…"

"So I was an amusement." Alexis huffed. "A silly game…Forgive me I seem to have mistaken you for a grown up Mr Hailsworth not a child, and I have no intention of placing my faith and Denver Carrington's future in the hands of a child…Now I think you should leave." Alexis added turning towards the door, intent on opening it and kicking this prankster out when Ethan reached out and caught her hand.

Lifting it to his lips he pressed a kiss to her knuckles smirking over the top in a way that both annoyed and titillated her. "Because you interested me…No captivated…From the moment I first caught sight of you in that exhibit. Oh I knew Alexis Colby, I recognised you and your reputation preceded you, so when you went off to look at the paintings by yourself I followed. I just wanted to see if you lived up to the legend."

"Yet you didn't even introduce yourself, we barely spoke." Alexis cut in sharply, yet the memory of that night of the feeling of synchronicity and empathy was hard to shake and Alexis felt her cheeks heat slightly as Ethan stepped closer and she could feel the tantalising heat from his body.

"I followed you upstairs intending to talk to you…But then I saw you…really saw you." Ethan answered his dark eyes boring into hers, his gaze so intense it caused goosebumps to prickle on Alexis's skin.

"You were just standing there lost in concentration, you seemed so engrossed, so entranced, such a tantalising contradiction in a woman one moment a core of steel and the next soft…and beautiful…so beautiful. I knew then I needed more than just to talk to you but there was too many complications at the exhibition so I left."

By complications Alexis assumed Ethan meant Dex, yet even the thought of her distant lover didn't provide the dash of cold water that it should have and Alexis couldn't help but be flattered by Ethan's words. "That was a lot of effort and all to get my attention."

"It was worth it." Ethan insisted. "You are a woman with many men vying for your attention, I had to do something to stand out from the crowd." He added pausing to smile smugly as he lifted a hand and traced his fingertips over Alexis's bare shoulder. "And I just knew you wouldn't be able to resist a mystery to solve."

She should pull away. Alexis was used to being the one in control, even when she was being pursued, yet there was something hypnotic about that voice, and those dark eyes some how able to seem both new and familiar at the same time. Yet as Ethan bent down his eyes locked on her lips Alexis seemed to shake herself out of the spell he had cast on her, her hand raising to rest on his chest stopping him in his tracks.

"And that is the whole story, you went through all this just because you wanted to get my attention?"

"You don't believe me?" Ethan answered teasingly ignoring Alexis's narrowing gaze. "Surely you can't doubt that I want you Alexis, you can't doubt your own appeal?"

Flustered by his closeness and his teasing Alexis needed space to think, to regroup, if Ethan was playing a game with her he was an extremely good actor…Alexis should know being a more than proficient one herself. Yet she couldn't take the risk that Ethan was merely toying with her. "I invited you here to discuss business Mr Hailsworth not myself."

"They are one and the same, aren't they?" Ethan countered ignoring Alexis's scowl as he forged on. "Oh I don't mean any disrespect Alexis, quite the opposite in fact, your business skills impress me they always have but they are only part of my fascination with you…Charm and charisma and more than a dash of ruthlessness, it is a heady combination for a man like me, seductive and deadly!"

"And nothing at all like yourself." Alexis snorted sharply, yet instead of being offended Ethan just smirked.

"Who ever invented that tosh about opposites attracting eh?" Ethan replied softly his dark eyes glinting and for a moment Alexis couldn't shake off a sense of dejavu.

"I think we are pretty evenly matched and we have more in common than you could believe…perhaps in time when we've gotten to know each other a little better then you will come to trust me…" Ethan answered softly.

"Better…Intimately as it were?" Alexis echoed her own smug grin finding its mirror on Ethan's face as he once again offered her his hand.

"Dinner first!" Ethan insisted his tone brooking no argument. "Afterwards we can commence negotiations for everything else."

Laughing his arrogant presumption and impudent suggestive drawl Alexis surprised herself when she accepted his hand, allowing him to tug her towards the door, her smaller hand seeming to fit perfectly in Ethan's larger grip.

After all it was only dinner…And flirting…that was a game Alexis was a master at, it didn't need to go any further Alexis just needed to keep Ethan interested long enough for him to help her secure the deal for Denver Carrington, once that was settled she would find a way to let him down gently. In the meantime it was only a bit of fun and her battered ego could do with the soothing balm of some flattering from a handsome and mysterious suitor.

What harm could it really do?

Part 5b):

Adam Carrington was not a patient man yet when it came to pursing things he wanted he could find reserves of untapped patience.

At the moment from the outside Adam already had everything a man could possibly want, a beautiful girlfriend, wealth unimaginable, a strong tight knit family and he was the senior vice president and acting head of day to day Colby Co operations whilst Alexis was down under. And yet it was a charade…all fleeting and Adam knew how easily these things could be taken from him.

Dana was already distancing herself emotionally from him, most mornings Adam awoke to an empty bed, his lover already dressing for the day their only interactions now a stiff and awkward good morning or good night. It was as though their relationship was slowly sickening and neither knew what medicine might revive it. Instead all they could do was stand by listless and ineffectual as the distance between them grew. Adam loved Dana, probably more than he had loved any woman but somehow it wasn't enough, her love couldn't assuage the ache Adam had deep inside him for more.

Always more.

The wealth and the family ties, along with his position at Colby Co were transient too…They could all be taken from him if Adam failed to live up to the responsibilities and image of the Carrington family…Something Adam unfortunately already had more than a little experience with.

Was that why he was clinging to the vestiges of his relationship with Dana?

She loved him, of that Adam was certain. Dana hadn't turned him away despite having every reason to do so when he had turned up at her doorstep at the edge of his tether and on the run from the authorities. She had taken in him, had done her best to patch him back together but that was a task far too big for her. In the end it had been Adam's decision to come home and face the music, to try and fix his problems. Dana had come along to hold his hand, to lend him her support and then somehow they had ended up falling back into a relationship and for a while things had seemed to work.

Yet were the memories of a past romance, gratefulness and guilt really the best foundation for a new marriage? Yes Adam loved Dana, he probably always would, but was he in love with her or she with him?

Adam wished he could have said yes on both counts but somehow he doubted that it was true…not anymore.

Yet instead of facing the situation and talking about it…rather than accept that once again he had managed to mess up his love life just like every other area of his life Adam was doing his level best to avoid having to face facts. He buried himself in managing every little detail at Colby Co, determined that in this at least he could do something right for once.

Of course attending to every little detail meant Adam had to work hard, long hours, hours that kept him at the office and out of the house. Dinner was now taken at the office, delivered to Alexis's office, which Adam had borrowed, by a sulking Mark, whose impertinence was now bordering on insubordination. There were times that Adam longed to simply fire the mouthy secretary but thoughts of his mother's displeasure kept that impulse in check.

Mark had lasted months with Alexis, a record that had given him near legendary status amongst the secretary pool in Denver. No doubt wherever Mark went that secretaries and their kind socialised he was treated like some sort of god. Perhaps that had led to the uppity young man developing the attitude? Since he never let a moment pass without rolling his eyes at Adam's commands or generally exuding the air that he clearly considered assisting Adam to be beneath him. The little side comments alone were pushing Adam towards the edge and if Mark asked one more time if he wanted his bottle warming then Adam wasn't sure he could restrain himself.

Adam was so engrossed in plotting ways that he could accidentally fire his mother's secretary that he was barely looking where he was going and it wasn't until his arms were suddenly full of pretty blonde…pretty pregnant blonde…heavily pregnant…

"Oh sorry." The blonde stuttered and Adam felt the breath catch in his throat.

"That's quite alright…I'm Adam."

Smiling politely the young lady accepted the hand Adam offered, shaking it quickly before dropping it and glancing down the stairs. "I'm Jessica…Jess to my friends."

"Are you on your way to breakfast?" Adam enquired politely falling into step beside her unable to tear his gaze from her stomach. It was like a shot across his bows.

The baby…That's when everything had started to go wrong…Loosing his son had made everything else in his life seem pointless. As though all the things he had been working for suddenly had no meaning anymore since he had no one else to pass them onto. Since then Adam had simply been going through the motions, existing not living, throwing himself into the next mad scheme in the hope that would bring him the fulfilment he craved.

"Yes but I guess part of me is still a little thrown…this house is so big and well I guess I am a little out of my depth, Mr and Mrs Carrington have been so kind letting me stay but I still feel..."

"Out of place?" Adam could sympathise. "Awkward…Uncomfortable?"

Laughing Jess nodded. "All of the above actually…In fact…now this is a little embarrassing I can't even remember where the dining room is and I was hanging around the stairs hoping to bump into one of the staff."

"And instead you got me!" Adam snorted sharing Jess's nervous laughter. "Well Milady allow me to escort you to the dining room, otherwise next time the next person who bumps into you might end up bouncing you down those stairs instead."

Laughing again Jess slipped her hand through the crook of Adam's elbow falling into step with him, the pair of them oblivious to the envious blue eyes that followed them silently.

Part 6 a)

Dex Dexter had always hated Dexter lodge. The former home of the Dexter estate manager had years before his birth become the lodgings for the family albatross or as she was more commonly known Great Aunt Josephine. As a child he could remember being forcibly wheeled out every Sunday after church and forced to sit between his parents as they paid their obligatory weekly visit to Aunt Josephine.

It was an experience that had stuck in his mind and not in a good way.

Sitting their stuffed in his Sunday best, bored out of his mind, but Dex wasn't allowed to go and play whilst they forced down the weak tea and stale sugarless rock cakes and made polite conversation. Conversation that mostly involved Aunt Josephine lecturing on at length about exactly what was wrong with them and everyone else in their little community, all whilst she fixed Dex in her eye not allowing him so much as a fidget before picking on him as well.

Dex had never been able to shake off the feeling that Aunt Josephine hadn't exactly approved of him.

As a child Dex had turned that feeling into bitterness and resentment, resentment that his father had forced them to go visit the old witch in the first place and bitterness that the old woman seemed to pick on him for no good reason. Over the years that resentment and bitterness had evolved into little acts of rebellion or sabotage.

If on the Sunday Dex had been forced to listen at length about Aunt Josephine's surely prize winning vegetables then during the week he would enact his revenge somehow. As a young child this involved peeing on the lettuce or accidentally slipping weed killer into the watering can when Aunt Josephine forced him to make himself useful. Once he had even managed to capture a wild rabbit and slipping out of his room after dusk he had biked over to the lodge and set the rabbit free inside the protected garden that housed the vegetables raised solely for competition.

Those little acts of retribution were the only thing that kept Dex sane as he sat bored out of his brain ignoring the constant stream of complaints and criticisms coming his way. Yet no matter how much he tried to keep the smirk from his face Dex couldn't shake the feeling that Great aunt Josephine could somehow sense that he was to blame for these little misfortunes. It was as though the woman had a sixth sense for people misbehaving.

So the fact that he was once again dressed up and sitting on that uncomfortable couch, his son dressed in his best sitting contentedly between Dex and Marin, sucking on his thumb thankfully oblivious to the tension, did not sit easily with Dex. That he was here to ask for the old curmudgeons help was nearly unthinkable and Dex was stumped if he could think of how to even broach the subject.

So instead they fell back into the old pattern, sipping tepid tea, eating stale flavourless cake, listening to Aunt Josephine drone on about some woman from the church who had dared to deviate from the precise flower arranging plans that Aunt Josephine had drawn up for the parish back in 1957.

"So when are you going to tell me the real reason you are here boy?"

Startled by actually being spoken to instead of at Dex almost sloshed the tea out of his cup. "I was visiting Marin and I thought I should visit…"

"You visit me of your own free will? You never bothered before, even as a child you had to be forced to come." Aunt Josephine snorted her slight blue eyes narrowing in suspicion. "If you are here after money then you can forget it…"

"I don't need money." Dex snapped cutting off his aunt probably for the first time in her life…or at least in living memory. "And you're right I wouldn't have willing come to see you." Dex added bluntly ignoring his sister's groan.

"Good going Dex."

"Well at least he is finally being honest." Aunt Josephine snapped her blue eyes narrowing. "So what do you want Farnsworth?" She added, drawling slightly over his given name, a name that she knew Dex disliked and never used. She was needling him directly but Dex refused to rise to that particular bait.

"I received a letter from Sam at the will reading and I was hoping you would be able to make sense of it." Dex replied cautiously, if the old woman really was clueless then Dex had no desire to hand her that ammunition but it seemed those fears were unfounded as Aunt Josephine sank back against the cushions smirking.

"Oh finally told you did he?" She snorted taking a sip of her tea. "It was about time."

Glancing across at Marin Dex shot her glare to hold her tongue, the last thing he wanted was to reveal their bluff. "Yes but I was hoping you would be able to fill me in on how…why it happened."

"I would have thought with your reputation you would have been well aware of how!" Aunt Josephine sniffed in disgust. "As for the why…Well I suppose some people with less moral character might have said it was inevitable the two of them alone in that big house, well I knew it for what it was disgusting!"

Clenching his jaw Dex feigned his expression to something akin to agreement whilst inwardly he strained at the bit. "All alone in the house?"

"Of course Sam was off at war, the poor boy had no idea what was really going on with that wife of his. I told him from the start not to marry her, her father was the foreman at Dexter Mining, presumptive social climbers the lot of them. Well unfortunately for your father that was the first time he ignored my advice and it ended up costing him." Aunt Josephine pontificated sniffing in disgust.

"But even I didn't think…I mean it is unthinkable…her own father in law…"

The air was knocked out of him as if someone had just thumped him straight to the stomach…Of all the possible scenarios that one had never ever occurred to him…That the grandfather who Dex had admired, who he had aspired to be more like was actually not his grandfather but his natural father…

"Wait Grandpa Farnsworth!" Marin spluttered exclamation cut Aunt Josephine's rant off. "Dex isn't my brother…he's…he's my uncle?" She added unable to believe what she was hearing.

"Yes…You mean you didn't…You tricked me boy!" Aunt Josephine hissed her temper visible from the way her pale cheeks flushed angrily. "How dare you come into my house and try your cheap tricks on me?"

"Because I needed to know the truth, the real truth." Dex answered distractedly still unable to process this news completely.

He was still a Dexter and yet somehow this revelation seemed worse than any other he could have imagined. That the man who he had turned to when his world collapsed, the man who he had trusted and respected all others, was his father and had lied to Dex his entire life.

"I can't…I need…Marin look after Jack…I just need…" Dex blustered staggering out of the house unable to think, unable to stand that house and that woman's presence a moment longer…His mind shutting down as the childish impulse to run took over him. Getting behind the wheel of his car Dex put the accelerator to the floor, kicking up clouds of dust as he sped off down the drive.

Perhaps if he got far enough away from this place then he could also escape the terrible knowledge that now echoed round in his mind…He was still a Dexter…He was Farnsworth Dexter Jnr, illegitimate offspring of Farnsworth Dexter Snr and his son's wife, the family's secret shame.

Part 6b):

Blake Carrington was trying to work…

Trying being the operative word as no matter how hard he tried to concentrate but try as he could to concentrate on the paperwork in front of him. Blake was tired as sleep had proven hard to come by and what little he had managed had been disturbed by another one of those prank calls. Yet it wasn't his exhaustion that was really bothering him, instead Blake couldn't stop mulling over something Jackson had said.

"You two sure are a piece of work, you can't live together, you can't live apart…Alexis gets just as jealous as you do Blake she's just much better at hiding it, well from you at least."

Alexis jealous.

Shaking his head Blake struggled to believe that was really the case. Yes once upon a time Blake would have believed Alexis could have been jealous, she had certainly done enough over the years to try and destroy his second marriage, but was that really because she had been jealous or was it that she just couldn't stand to see him happy when she wasn't?

Yet no there was no woman in his life right now so why would Alexis have any cause to be jealous?

True when they had first broken up and Blake had resumed his relationship with Krystle, then it might have made sense but Blake had broken things off with Krystle months ago now and he had told Alexis that he loved her and…

Surely he had told Alexis things were over with Krystle?

Wracking his memory Blake tried to remember actually saying those words, and worryingly came up blank…Had he really forgotten something so important?

But even if he hadn't said those exact words Alexis must have realised, Blake reassured himself. After all he wasn't the sort of man too pursue a woman whilst still involved with another…

Yet even as he made that declaration Blake felt a sour note of reality enter his thoughts, he had asked Krystle to marry him in that clinic whilst he was still technically engaged to Alexis. So was it so far fetched for Alexis to believe that he was doing the same again, only the other way around? Did she really think he had kept Krystle around as a second choice just in case Alexis didn't ever reciprocate his feelings?

To Blake such an idea seemed preposterous…but from Alexis's perspective how would she know any different?

Krystle still lived in the same house as him, albeit in different bedrooms, they still co-parented their child, Krystle still acted as his escort to functions and from an outsider's viewpoint they probably still looked like a couple.

Groaning at his own idiocy Blake could only imagine the mixed messages he had been sending. Declaring his love and acting jealous and possessive one moment all whilst appearing in California with Krystle on his arm. And as long as Krystle remained in the mansion Alexis would always be wondering. After all not many men would be able to resist a pretty ex-wife who clearly was still in love with him, when the woman Blake did want was so far from his grasp.

Alexis had once declared they could no longer be together because she couldn't trust him anymore. Trust not love was their problem, it had always been their problem, and Blake had to admit he had been doing a terrible job of trying to win back Alexis's trust. Every time they seemed to be making progress his own uncontrollable jealous reared its ugly head. The way he had behaved over Jackson, the accusations and vile names he had levied at Alexis, even if the situation had been too close to his memories of Roger Grimes, it still didn't give him the right to have reacted like that.

Yet the greatest tragedy in all this was that Blake knew even if he promised to try harder, to work at regaining Alexis's trust, to not fly off the handle with jealousy but listen to Alexis's explanation first; even then he couldn't guarantee he wouldn't make the same mistakes.

Was his jealous nature too deeply engrained? Or was it simply that he had never faced and addressed Alexis's infidelity from their first marriage. At the time Blake had simply forced that pain away, locking it deep inside himself because facing it head on would have overwhelmed him and he had children to raise and a company to run…and Carrington men weren't renowned for dealing with their emotional problems.

She had hurt him deeply back then. Even now so many years removed Blake couldn't bear to open the seal on that particular well. It had been easier to simply bury the pain and build anew on top. Yet as any architect would tell you a building is only as strong as its foundations. In the years after his divorce Blake hadn't had a relationship that lasted longer than a few months until he met Krystle. She had given him hope that perhaps he could finally move forward; could forget his first wife with a woman that was as close to her opposite as it was possible to find.

Yet despite Krystle's attempts to dig foundations for their relationship, to build it sturdily, Blake had resisted her attempts to break through into his depths. Was that why their marriage had been so close to collapsing on numerous occasions? Had it only lasted as long as it had due to luck and the tether of Krystina holding them together?

And if by some miracle Alexis and he did reconcile were they doomed to repeat the same mistakes, if they didn't first deal with the lingering consequences of their first marriage, acknowledge and accept the part they both played in its disintegration?

Running his hand through his silver hair Blake clenched his fingers around the soft strands.

All of this introspection was mute any way. Alexis was with Dexter, a man who adored her, and let her trample all over him. True Dex seemed to struggle with fidelity but now he was a father…Blake knew only too well the dramatic change becoming a parent could affect. Adam's birth had given him a sense of purpose and drive to succeed that had astounded Blake at the time, he had always been an ambitious man, but all of a sudden he wasn't just doing all this hard work for himself but for his family.

No Dexter had to be a damned fool if he threw all that away…and despite his failings being a fool was not among them.

It was hopeless then…

The shrill sound of the phone snapped Blake out of his self-indulgent wallowing.

"Hello Blake Carrington speaking."

"Good evening Mr Carrington I am Nurse Bernard calling from the Princess Grace Hospital Centre Monaco I was hoping to talk to a Mrs Alexis Carrington…"

Frowning Blake felt the hairs on the back his neck prickle. Why was someone phoning here for Alexis, why was anyone phoning for a Mrs Alexis Carrington from a Monaco hospital at all? "Mrs Carrington no longer lives at this address and she is currently Alexis Colby, may I ask what this call is in connection to?"

"I am sorry but I am only really allowed to disclose that information to Mrs Ca..Colby but this is somewhat urgent, we are trying to find her as she is listed as the emergency contact for one of our ICU patients."

"What patient?" Blake demanded the prickles of fear now more substantial.

There was a sizeable pause on the other end of the phone and the sound of rustling paperwork. "I believe the patient is listed as her daughter."

His throat dry Blake could only croak out one word, his world crashing down around him. "Amanda."