Chapter 11

Carly had finished her shower and the two of them ordered a pizza. Carly had a couple beers in the fridge. Jason pulled the check and an additional piece of paper out of his pocket for review. "Here is the check for the Moreysa home." He stated as he handed it to her.

Carly opened the envelope and looked at the check. The look of shock that crossed her face nearly made Jason laugh out loud.

"They paid 350,000 for the house. As you know I paid around 170,000 for the home with the repairs and updates. That's a difference of 180,000 which makes your ten percent 18,000 for the five bedrooms home. Not too bad, we can renegotiate the percentage after we take a look at the thirty day mark and adjust from there." He told her. She just stared at him in shock. He laughed and asked "You okay?"

"I haven't ever seen this much money on a check before…" She stated. "Tax income totals yes, but never on a check."

"We'll make more on the home at the point even though it has one less room - it is off the sound and in a much better neighborhood, so try not to have a heart attack when we do." He teased her. She chuckled at him.

"Also I wanted to go over another business item with you – technically two." He said. "As you know I am working on a few different projects between the construction and the shop. I also got the license for the PM business on my office wall. Property management would be a good idea being that there are some smaller homes that I own and have renovated that aren't selling as well as I would like due to their location and size. Their good as first time rentals though. What do you think?"

"That's a great idea!" Carly enthused. "And if you really wanted to make them work out you could have them be lease to buy options and include some basic appliances to sweeten the rent and the buying prospects. Is the home on Derby one of them that you were considering?"

"Yeah, I thought that one would be good. But I figured I would hold that back for a while. It is on the lake and Emily likes to use it during the summer. I figured I would keep ownership, I can let it be used off and on in the meantime by people I know and when Em is old enough she can live there when she goes to PCU." Jason confirmed.

"That's sweet." Carly said with a smile. Before Jason could ask what she meant the doorbell rank. Carly got up to get the pizza.

Jason and her grabbed plates and napkins, when they had resumed sitting each with a couple slice Jason brought up the second item. "There was something else I needed to ask you about given the business. I am interested in reducing the cost of the furniture aspect of the homes that we are staging. From what you have been describing each home has a different feel or color scheme which means that we have different items that are needed for each home. The leftover pieces that homeowners don't want to keep and negotiate out of the contract would be placed in storage. I hate storage. Rather than doing that, I bought the building beside my shop and I was thinking that we could build patricians within the building – you can stage a fake room and then we can sell individual pieces and sets over the internet. What do you think? I would need you to look into the pricing for shipping local vs. worldwide and some of the other technical aspects?"

"I am going to schedule you advance vacations, that's what I am thinking but honestly I am scared to give you too much dead time because you think of everything with a business mind. That's a great idea, but I would need help. Would you be opposed to Emily helping me with the staging and online stuff part-time after school occasionally?"

"No, that would work; especially being that she knows Lucky. Lucky is a whiz on a computer and the internet. If either of you had questions or concerns he would be a call away which would make it easier. Not only that other than billing and finance _ I prefer to not have to use the computer." He said.

"So essentially when the computer dies don't call you – got it." Carly teased him with a grin. He smiled back at her.

They finished their meal and Carly threw the garbage away. Jason and her gravitated toward the front door. "One last thing." Jason murmured as his lips descended on hers. They began kissing each other and his hands rubbed her hips up and down lazily. Carly could feel her blood pounding and her heart was beating outside her chest nearly.

"Well isn't this interesting?" Came a firm voice. Luke Spencer stood in her doorway lock pick hanging from his right hand.

"Luke, most people don't break in." Jason pointed out.

"Most people don't show up where they're not wanted either," Luke responded.

Carly bristled and stated "I didn't think you told my mother about me so how would you know either way if I was wanted or not. Furthermore, I didn't come here just to meet Bobbie. I came here to see the town and take classes at PCU for interior design Luke. Did it coincide with where Bobbie lived? Yeah it did, but I haven't approached her because I heard her life recently went to shit. I am not here to complicate things, and I would appreciate it if you would back off." She snarled at him.

Luke looked slightly taken back. "Good night." Jason said firmly as he closed the door in Luke's face.

"Gr, I hate that guy." Carly complained. Jason laughed and noted ryely "Then you can relate to how I feel about my family." Carly smiled she couldn't help it.

None of them knew that Luke was followed by Stefan's minion while Stefan was busy marrying Bobbie in the Dominican Republic…

"I have a report for you sir."

"Go ahead."

"It would appear that Luke Spencer is keeping a secret from Mrs. Cassadine. I have heard that congratulations are in order sir. Either way, Mrs. Cassadine has a biological daughter that she gave up for adoption."

:"Yes, I know the child died when in her teens she got in a car accident."

"No, the child is alive. Luke Spencer lied about that fact. Ms. Carolina Leigh Spencer is here within Port Charles and is currently residing at Cortlandt Street and works for Jason Morgan Quartermaine. They also are in a relationship. I overheard her and Luke's argument regarding her maternity. Ms. Carolina made it clear that she had not approached her mother due to the step-child's death and other recent turmoil that Mrs. Cassadine has endured."

"Did you overhear if she planned on contacting Barbara?"

"She indicated that she would like to meet her at some point, but would not pursue it at this time due to the recent changes in her mother's life as well as her recent move to New York from Florida."

"Keep me updated on Luke Spencer's whereabouts and interactions and in addition place Redolfo and Vasil as unseen security detail for Carolina. My mother is not to be near her. Is this absolutely clear?"

"Yes, right away sir"

The phone call ended and Stefan glanced into the master bedroom where his new wife lay sleeping. Barbara had no idea of the changes that were about to keep plaguing her life.

The next morning Carly had called Emily and discussed The Plan for the furniture store. They needed a name. Carly had been racking her brain while she dealt with Jason's invoices. A stupid delinquency…why is there an outstanding bill from ELQ? GAH, that old fart is so irritating.

Carly braced herself and dialed ELQ's payable line to get payment worked out. As soon as the little mouse on the other ended answered and got the business name she was put on hold and a tinny computer voice notified her that she was being transferred to Edward's line.

"Jason, before we discuss the building negotiations; your grandmother has been complaining about not seeing more of you." Edward blustered.

"First off this is not Jason, this is Carly. Second you owe Jason money for six repairs to a third floor restroom afterhours at ELQ and third Jason isn't negotiating on the building next door. We already have a business there, sorry Edward you'll have to find another building. Jason has one downtown that he is in the middle of renovating, and if you're nice to me and stop making me call ELQ for every little payment. I might mention your looking and provide pressure on this end. Especially since it is the old Jacks building that is across the street from you…" Carly stated sweeting the deal.

Edward grinned on his end of the line. That boy definitely found himself a strong woman. He thought pridefully…and then began playing hardball with her on the bill.

Jason had got a message from Edward about that hard headed "office girlie" he had working for him and how she didn't negotiate the bill with him for the third floor repair. Jason just looked at his phone for a moment. He could have sworn he heard pride in that old fool's voice.

The next message was from Carly. Letting him know that ELQs payable department was paying them and that he needed a phone service to deal with those phone calls. He laughed at that message, because he knew how frustrating it was to be stuck on the phone with Edward.

He stopped off at Kelly's to fix their sink in return for a free lunch from Ruby. "Hey Jason" Ruby called out.

"Ruby," He responded politely.

"You know where the sink is. I swear you have to fix it every week. It's driving me crazy."

He held up the new sink with parts as he entered the kitchen.

"Are you sure you're single?" Ruby teased him. He shook his head at her with a slight grin.

"No, I am seeing someone. I was sure Emily had broadcasted it to the international news station by now." He responded.

Ruby laughed out loud. "Not yet, although I am sure she told Lucky."

"He witnessed my family having dinner with her. To say it was a horrible evening would be an understatement." Jason said stoically.

Ruby sympathized given that she knew no one was good enough in Monica's eyes and Edward as a one word description was enough to describe the whole sordid affair. "At least you know they love you." She pointed out.

"Yeah the old me, and being that I am no longer that person; love would probably not be the word I would use." Jason pointed out.