Julian walked up to where Carlos stood with Alexis. She smiled when she saw him approach them.
"Derek…"
"Alexis…"
She gestured to the man next to her.
"He's…I didn't catch your name…"
The man smiled.
"Carlos…and you're?"
She shook his offered hand.
"I'm Alexis Davis and this is Derek Wells. He's the owner and publisher of The Press."
The two men shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. Julian cleared his throat.
"You in town long?"
Carlos shook his head, clearly amused.
"I don't know…just popping in on an old friend," he said, "So you don't know how long you're staying in town."
"No I don't…if I stay longer…might be looking for a job."
Julian smiled.
"Maybe there' something for you in publishing. You can call in to Human Resources if you're interested."
Carlos shrugged.
"I might just do that…if I stick around."
Alexis glanced at both of them.
"Sounds like you might be able to help each other," she said, "Well I've got to head on out. I've got a pile of paperwork."
Julian looked at her.
"You coming back?"
She shook her head.
"Molly's got an event at her school. A project she and some friends worked on for an art class."
"Sounds interesting."
She shrugged.
"Just another day in the Davis household."
She walked away and he watched her go then turned to Carlos clearly not happy.
"What the hell do you think you were doing?"
Carlos smiled.
"I came here looking for an old friend of mine and found her instead. She was real nice to me."
Julian's eyes hardened.
"Stay away from her. She's not a part of this and neither is her daughter."
"Haven't met her yet. Is she pretty?"
Julian just stared at him.
"Stick to the plan…and don't get distracted by anything else."
Carlos chuckled.
"It seems like I'm not the one distracted her but I won't ask questions. I'm just here to do a job…and take care of some private business. But I'm a professional and I do good work."
Julian knew that and last night's bombing of Sonny's boat bringing in an illegal shipment had gone quite well. But now Carlos had to really prove himself because it was time to go after Sonny's employees.
Beginning with his number two by default, Shawn Butler.
"We can't talk business here," he said, "Drop by my office after it closes for the night."
"You sure?"
Julian nodded.
"Now get going…We can't be seen together anymore and arouse suspicion."
Carlos nodded and left.
Dante had been talking to Anna earlier this morning at PCPD and had come by the hospital to check on some paperwork involving the baby that now would be adopted by him and Lulu. The one that Maxie had carried as a surrogate.
He glanced over while he waited for the nurse to give him some of the medical document copies and saw a man talking with Derek Wells the publisher. Someone he hadn't seen before, maybe a new employee of his that had started working there.
Anna had told him about her running into Derek when she'd been checking Duke out of the hospital to make sure he didn't run off and do something foolish. He'd acted a bit odd she thought and had passed that information along to Dante.
Not that it meant anything and besides he'd been busy hearing his mother go into hysterics about his father's latest breakdown at a party. He tried to avoid Sonny when he went all crazy…after what Sonny had done nearly killing him.
Then Olivia nearly getting iced by someone yet unidentified. So Dante tried to maintain a professional distance but still had been heavily criticized by The Press editorial board when he hadn't arrested his own father for waving a gun and threatening to blow A.J. Quartermaine away.
He walked away from the documents, his eyes watching as the man with the beard and wearing a leather jacket walked away from Derek.
Alexis had headed to the Floating Rib after the presentation at Molly's school over her project which had been very well received. Afterward, Molly and T.J. had gone off to Kelly's to celebrate or chill out over food and dessert along with other students. She noticed that Rafe had kept his distance and that Molly hadn't seemed too happy to see him.
They'd been close enough just several weeks ago. Now, they barely talked and when she'd asked her daughter why, she'd received a shrug in response. Then they'd taken off. She'd seen Shawn but he kept his distance too, just glancing at her.
She made no move to approach him. Then she left to go to the Floating Rib where she ran into Mac tending bar.
"Hi Alexis…chardonnay or the scotch tonight?"
She smiled at him.
"I'll take the wine. Just got back from Molly's school. She did really well and is off celebrating with her friend. I thought I'd do some relaxing and then tackle some of my work at home."
He poured her the wine.
"All work, no play…"
She chuckled.
"I know…I was thinking when all this was over…I might get out more."
His eyes widened slightly.
"You mean…"
She moved her hands.
"Yeah…I might…date. My daughter Sam gave me an earful about it."
He smiled.
"Sounds like a great idea. Alexis, you're an intelligent, vibrant woman with a great sense of humor…"
She pressed her lips together.
"Thanks Mac but this whole relationship thing…I've just never been good at it."
He wiped the bar down with a towel.
"You just haven't found the right person…"
"I'm not looking for that Mac. I just want to get out and have some fun."
He shrugged.
"Okay…so if I know any good looking men who are single…I should send them your way…after vetting them closely of course."
She sipped her wine.
"I…I'm not sure that'll be necessary."
His brows arched.
"Oh…you already have someone in mind?"
She nodded.
"You remember Derek Wells don't you? The man who came in the bar that night?"
He furrowed his brows.
"Yes…the one who hit on you with those stupid lines? Then turned around and was Danny's bone marrow donor."
She nodded, smiling.
"He's a…nice man and he's single and he's attractive," she said, "in his…did I say he was attractive?"
Mac kept a straight face.
"Yes you did Alexis…and speaking of him, he's coming up right behind you."
She turned around and saw him standing behind her, a smile on his face.
"So you think I'm attractive…"