I had a lot of fun writing this chapter, and maybe that's why I'm a little nervous about it. As always though I care more about what you thought, you guys are great reviewers!
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Chapter Nine
The Engagement Party
Metro Court Hotel:
The ballroom of the Metro Court Hotel was filled with Nikolas and Georgie's closet family, friends, and associates. The large room was decked out in summer colors, with crisp whites being the dominate feature in the room. Round tables, seating six at the most, created a half moon around the room and were set with white table cloths that bore gold accents.
Each table held a crystal vase with an arrangement of orange orchids in the center, surrounded by the hotels finest china, that also bore gold accents, and crystal wear. Waiters were currently floating around the room bearing hors d'œuvre to those who were scattered talking to each other, including two blonde's standing by the champagne.
"Gee Lulu, think you could dress any skankier?"
"If I took fashion advice from you, yeah I could."
"Tell me-"
"Enough!" A voice from behind them commanded.
Looping her arms through the two shorter girls arms, Georgie's gaze stayed fixed on the crowd gathered in ballroom of the Metro Court Hotel. A strange tight smile was fixed on her face and her eyes were gleaming with stress. Yanking them by their arms Georgie guided them to a prime position in the ballroom, where the trio could see everyone.
"I know how difficult it is for the both of you to be in the same room together, for an extended period of time, without attacking one another. But tonight, is going to be different," she warned, looking to her right, then her left, "tonight, you're going to get along. Why? Well first I'll direct your attentions to Jerry Jax. I don't know why he's here, but he is. Him plus the Metro Court Hotel equals... well you both know what it equals since you both were here last time."
Both Maxie and Lulu exchanged quick glances. Georgie's voice was tight and restrained, as was her grip on their arms, however she still possessed an eerie calm was beginning to freak the both of them out.
"Next, focus your attention to the bar. Notice Mac. He's drinking his second alcoholic beverage of the night," Georgie informed them, looking specifically at her sister in the process, "now notice the direction of the glare that says he's itching for a fight. Luke."
"Why is he glaring at my dad!?" Lulu asked, miffed by what she viewed to be an insult toward her father.
"Lulu." Georgie's voice warned, "it's better that he's glaring at him rather than Helena."
"He wasn't! Was he?" Maxie asked, appalled that their father would put his life at risk like that.
"Oh, yes Maxie he was," Georgie told her, focusing their attention back on the crowd, Georgie continued with her observations of the crowd, smiling through her gritted teeth.
"Luke, is standing with his wife. Tracy. Who is well aware of the situation, regarding your mother, Lulu. Right now I can't tell whether she's going to break down or explode. But I have a feeling she's plotting to break up our wedding," Georgie told them, "and I believe Helena is well aware of the threat Tracy posses."
Maxie and Lulu nodded their heads. Tracy was probably plotting to bring Dillon back to Port Charles in an attempt to divert Georgie from marrying Nikolas. Helena on the other hand, had probably devised a way of keeping the young Quartermaine boy far away from Port Charles. Little did either of the older woman know, but that Georgie had long since dealt with her feelings regarding Dillon and had no intention of going back to the man who twice cheated on her.
"Seated at the table next to them is Spinelli. How about one of you takes a guess at the nickname he's developed for Helena," when neither of them offered up a nickname, Georgie supplied the answer, "the Diabolical Dominatrix of Doom."
That caused both girls to groan.
"Now, all the way to your right. Sam is Nikolas' cousin. Elizabeth is Nikolas' friend. They both mean a lot to Nikolas, that's why they're here. I don't think I need to remind either of you that they don't get along, neither do Lucky or Jason. Therefore they shouldn't be seated at the same table. Yet they are and haven't asked to switch with anyone."
In the beginning neither Lulu nor Maxie could understand why Georgie was doing what she was doing, but now they were both starting to get the picture. In a big way.
"Back to the center of the room. An older version of you two, have been exchanging catty remarks since they entered the room."
Both Maxie and Lulu cringed when they realized Georgie was talking about Alexis and Carly, the latter of whom was standing next to the table where, the former was sitting. I hope I'm Alexis, Maxie thought to herself, almost grinning at the thought of Lulu turning into an version of Carly.
"Now notice, at the same table, Helena and Nikolas."
Both Maxie and Lulu turned their attentions away from Alexis and Carly, and toward Nikolas and Helena, causing both girls to shudder.
"Helena, is enjoying herself, and the tension that's surrounding her," and judging by the sinister smile that played on Helena's face, Georgie couldn't have been anymore on the spot. "Now aside from Helena can you spot another happy person in the room?"
"Max and Diane, seem to pretty happy," Maxie offered, looking toward the table where the two lovebirds sat.
"Maxie, they don't even know where they are," Georgie stated, but feeling slightly pleased by seeing the couple. "Now back to my table. Nikolas is the complete opposite of Helena," Lulu noticed the tension on her brothers face and instantly felt bad for him, "he's about as happy as I am."
That statement caused both of them to look at Georgie. Even with a serene smile plastered on her face they could both tell that Georgie's limits were being stretched.
"Now what is the point I'm trying to make?" she asked, looking back and forth between the two, making it clear that it wasn't a rhetorical question.
"That we don't need to add gasoline to the fire," Maxie supplied.
"Right. So what do the two of you plan to do about it?"
"For the rest of the night Maxie and I will be the best of friends," Lulu answered.
"Exactly!"
Once she'd said that, Georgie dropped their arms and made her way back to where Nikolas and Helena sat. Looking at each other, they smiled slightly.
"We can do this," Maxie said, extending her hand out, "for our siblings."
"For our siblings," Lulu replied taking Maxie's hand and giving it a shake. Marking their temporary truce.
In addition they both silently agreed to help keep the calm as much as possible and for the rest of the night, for the most part they succeeded. However, while Maxie was dancing with a half-inebriated Mac, and Lulu was chatting quietly with Carly, Spinelli slipped through their grasp.
Across the room, Nikolas was dancing with Georgie for the third time that night, since the dancing had started. In the beginning to two had been slightly uncomfortable, but as time and dances wore on they'd both relaxed. Now Georgie's head was leaning on Nikolas' shoulder, and Nikolas was trying his best to keep the dance going. Both of them looked completely exhausted.
Suddenly Nikolas seemed to perk up, drawing Georgie's attention.
"What?" she asked alarmed.
"Spinelli," he managed to choke out.
Across the room, Spinelli was speaking to Helena.
"While the Jackel appreciates that the Diabolical Dominatrix of Doom is giving the Blonde One back the Fair Sleeping Beauty known as her mother, he cannot help but wonder what dastardly deeds she plans to exact upon this metropolis. For that matter upon the Faithful Friend and His Broodyness. The Jackel will not stand by, and must warn the Queen of the Unhinged, that he knows people in high places. So play your games if you must but play with caution, because the Jackel will be watching," Spinelli finished his diatribe by making a motion with his hands, pointing first to his own eyes then toward Helena.
With a puzzled look on her face Helena asked, "who are you?"
Never, within recent memory, could Helena recall being this baffled by another person. Not only did she not know who he was but she also didn't have a clue as to what he just said. However, she did have a feeling that not only had he insulted her but threatened her as well.
"I am the Jackel," Spinelli explained morosely, upset that she obviously didn't know who he was, "the assassin of cyber space."
When Helena didn't show any recognition to the identity he gave, Spinelli opened his mouth once again about to launch into an account of his cyber prowess but was interrupted, luckily, by Sam and Alexis.
"Spinelli, why don't we go see if we can get you an orange soda," Sam offered, taking the young man by the shoulders when he seemed keen on the idea and guiding him toward a waiter.
Across the room, Georgie was peeking over Nikolas' shoulder as they danced.
"It looks like one disaster has been avoided, but one might be looming in the distance," she told him.
Alexis and Helena stood side by side as they watched Sam guide Spinelli away. Alexis turned to look at Helena and said, "he smoked pot, lot's of it," she informed her former step-mother.
Helena simply made a small grunt of recognition to Alexis' statement. The older womans mind had already moved past the strange boy to the young woman who took him away. Just as Alexis was about to leave, Helena made a comment that stopped her in her tracks.
"That was your daughter, wasn't it?"
"Yes, it was," Alexis replied, curious as to where Helena was taking this.
"She's pretty," Helena commented, turning to Alexis, "does she know who her father is?"
"No," Alexis told her simply, "and she never will."
"That is something we can both agree on," Helena said.
"Is everything alright over here?"
"Yes, Mr. Corinthos. Everything is fine," Helena told Sonny.
She watched as the mobster placed his hand on Alexis' elbow, a slight gesture, but one that screamed protective. Helena turned to leave, and as she did, the thought that it was Sonny Corinthos who stood in her way of finishing what she started with Kristin. But he won't be around forever, she reminded herself taking one last glance at Alexis and then her bastard daughter.
"Are you sure everything is alright?" Sonny asked.
"Yes Sonny, thank you," Alexis said, turning to face him, only to start when she felt an arm wrap around her waist.
"Corinthos, are bothering my date?" Jerry Jax asked, both his tone and posture suggesting an arrogance that could not be competed with.
Sonny glared at the other man, or rather the hand he had on Alexis' waist, "I'm surprised you're allowed in here."
"Now gentlemen-" Alexis started, only to have Jerry interrupt her.
"We're back to that now are we? I've told you, I'm not the same man," Jerry cockily informing him stepping closer.
"That's a lie and we both know it. You should be in jail right now for what you did," Sonny told him, getting right up into the smarmy mans face.
"One of us belongs in jail alright," Jerry said, "and that would be you."
"That's it!" Alexis exclaimed, placing herself bodily between them, "Sonny, thank you for your concern regarding Helena. You don't have to worry about her. Jerry, we need to talk."
Back across the room, where Nikolas and Georgie still swayed back and forth, they breathed a heavy sigh of relief as they watched Alexis pull Jerry in the opposite direction as Sonny. Out of the corners of their eyes they noted Jasper Jax, Jason Morgan, and Max Gaimbetti resume their seats. Apparently they weren't the only one's who thought the two would get violent.
"I don't know about you but I need to sit down," Georgie said, looking up at Nikolas.
"Yeah, I could use a drink too," Nikolas replied, guiding her back to their seats.
"Don't rub it in," Georgie glared at the champagne that was being passed around, wishing that either, a) they held the party at a private residence, or b) she were a year older.
No sooner had they sat down and Nikolas took a sip of his champagne, when he noticed Luke had stood up. His mother's ex-husband had his champagne glass in one hand and a teaspoon in the other.
"What is Luke doing?" Georgie asked.
"May I have your attention please," Luke's loud voice boomed through the room getting every one's attention focused on him, "great! Grab your champagne people. It's time to toast the happy couple."
While Helena looked about ready to burst with amusement, Georgie hid her face in her hands and Nikolas tilted his head all the way back and stared at the ceiling. Maxie glared at Lulu, who only shrugged her shoulders wondering if she should pull the fire alarm now. Both Bobbie and Tracy tugged at Luke's coat but it was all to no avail. To every one's horror he continued on.
"Now, since the bride's father is too drunk to make a toast, I thought I'd step in for him," Luke started, apparently very pleased with himself for the thought. Clearing his throat he began, "Georgie Jones was born twenty years ago on floor of my club. I can still recall Felicia's cries of agony from underneath that table as if it were yesterday. I've watched her grow up, from a tiny tot who dissected worms, to a brilliant and beautiful young woman. I met Nikolas when he was an angry young man. Angry at his mother, angry at the world. But who could blame him," Luke said, looking directly at Helena who was scowling, "I've watched him step out of the mold created for him and create his own destiny."
While Luke was still being his blunt self, wasn't as bad as they'd anticipated it was going to be but perhaps it was just to early to tell.
"A prince and a princess, coming together in unholy matrimony," while those who knew the true situation got his meaning, others were left to wonder what that statement meant. "You both couldn't have done much better. Georgie, you snagged a man with money, and Nikolas you got one hell of a looker. Congratulations to the both of you."
And no sooner had the words left his mouth that Mac tackled Luke to the ground, who promptly passed out on top of him.
Chaos erupted in the room.
Maxie and Lulu threw out their truce when Lulu dumped her glass of champagne over the other blonde's head. Maxie retaliated almost instantly by pushing Lulu's face into her desert.
Jerry crossed the room to where Sonny sat and threw a punch at the mobster only to miss and have Sonny slug him in the gut. They both fell to the floor where they proceeded to scuffle about, trying to take the other down.
Nikolas followed Patrick's lead, pulling Georgie out of harms way as Patrick had done with Robin. From the doorway, the four watched nearly everyone else fought, either physically or verbally, as was the case between Carly and Alexis as well as Sam and Elizabeth.
Suddenly a loud crash came from where Nikolas and Georgie had been seated. Helena had smashed the crystal vase on the floor, stopping everyone in their tracks.
"I hope you all get this out of your systems tonight. Because if you behave in this same appalling manner at either the wedding or the reception, rest assured that I will kill you," Helena told them, "each and every single one of you."
With that said, Helena stalked through the room and toward the four standing in the doorway. There she proceeded to tell Robin that she looked lovely, give Nikolas a hug and told Georgie that she would be by to see her the next day, and promptly left.
"She wouldn't actually kill anyone would she?" Patrick asked, over the renewed fighting in the room.
Nikolas, Georgie and Robin turned to look at him and answered simultaneously, "yes, she would."