Part Eleven
Gia groaned. She put her pillow over her head. Why won't the knocking stop? She asked her sleepy mind. As she slowly came around she realized that someone was knocking on the door downstairs. She wondered who it could be as she pulled a sweater on over her tank top. She put on some slippers and raced downstairs.
"I'm coming." She cried. "Hold on." She pulled the door open to see that it was Francis who was doing the knocking.
"I don't think she is awake…" Francis was telling the visitor just as she opened the door.
Gia's eyes grew wide when she saw who was there. "Marcus…"
"I'm gonna kill him." Marcus cried seeing his sister there in her bed clothes. He brushed past her and into the penthouse.
Francis looked at Gia.
"I'll handle it." Gia promised shutting the door.
"Where's Morgan?" Marcus demanded.
"Across the hall, watching Sonny and Carly's kids." Gia said. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same question." Marcus cried. "I am going to kill Morgan."
"For what?"
"Seducing you!" Marcus cried.
"Seducing me!" Gia echoed his cry. Maybe in her dreams…but she could think about that. "Marcus, it's really not like that!"
"Oh and what is like?" Marcus asked.
"First, how did you know I was here?" Gia crossed arms. If he said that he put a tail on her, she was going to slap him upside his bald head.
"I went to Port Charles Hotel to apologize for what happened the other day and they said that you checked out." He said. "Then an anonymous tipper called and said that you would be here…with Jason!"
AJ…it just had to be AJ. He had to be angry after what had happened the day before. She wanted to slap him so hard.
"Explain yourself, Gia." Marcus demanded.
"Look, I had some problems at the hotel. So I decided I needed a new place. Jason offered me his spare bedroom. I took his FRIENDLY offer. If you want to see the bedroom, I'll show you." Gia offered. "Whatever is going on in that head of yours…it didn't happen. He stayed in Sonny's penthouse last night."
"Gia, why don't you come stay with me?" Marcus asked.
"So you can run my life, I don't think so." Gia put her hands on her hips.
"I don't want you to get hurt Gia." Marcus said.
"Look at this place." Gia spun around. "Bullet proof glass…guards at the door…I think I am safer here then anywhere else."
"I am not talking about that." Marcus said. "What if some enemy of Sonny and Jason's finds out you are living here? What if they decide that you are Morgan's girl and take you?"
"Think about the Cassadines, Marcus. With all that happened to me while I was a part of that family. Was that any safer?" Gia reasoned. "This is not a forever thing…just until I find a place I like."
"How long will that take?"
"However long it does!" Gia cried. "Leave me be! I am old enough to do this on my own. I am happy here…" As if he were cued, the door opened and Michael came running in. He ran up to Gia and grabbed her hand.
"Want some breakfast?" He asked.
"You bet." Gia smiled at him. She looked back at her brother. "Your concern is noted but I am staying. Please just leave me alone on this one will you?"
Marcus watched his younger sister walked out the door holding Michael Corinthos' hand. He wanted to run after her and shake some sense into her. She would only get hurt staying at the penthouse. He knew that. He couldn't just sit by and watch her get hurt. What else could he do?
If he could convince her to leave…maybe the facts could. She would have to see how dangerous it was to live there when she was forced to look at the facts. He left the penthouse with an idea.
He would make sure that Gia was safe.
****
Gia carefully dressed. After breakfast she had gotten a call from Scotty. They were going to meet with Laura. Scotty was going to let Laura know that if she tried to push Gia out then he would make sure that she was sued for breaking the contract. She felt a little guilty bringing a lawyer into the situation but she also was angry that Laura would do this to her. She wasn't to blame for Nikolas' behavior. She grabbed her purse and walked downstairs. Jason was sitting on the couch.
"Where are the kids?" She asked.
"Bobbie came with Scotty. She is going to spend some time with them. Scotty is in Sonny's penthouse with her." Jason explained. "Did you sleep good?"
"Like a rock." Gia admitted. "It felt so good. I think the bed was much more comfortable than your couch." She joked.
"I would imagine." He said as she began to leave. "Good luck."
"Thanks." Gia said, and then crossed the hall. She opened the door to see Bobbie playing with Adella on the floor.
"Hi Gia." Bobbie said. She felt sorry for the younger woman. She had thought a lot of Nikolas and knew that Gia had tried her best to make him happy. It was a shame that he couldn't do the same for her.
"Hi Bobbie." Gia let out a little sigh. She was glad Bobbie didn't have the same reaction as her sister-in-law. She didn't want someone else saying she was to blame.
Scotty stood up. "Ready to do this?"
Gia nodded. "I really appreciate this."
"Ah it's nothing." He said waving his hands in the air. "My step-daughter had no trouble talking me into it. I spoke to Laura this morning and I think she is backing away from the idea. This meeting should seal it. I think she is getting over her reaction to Nikolas leaving town."
"I hope so." Gia said. When they were riding down the elevator she looked at him. "So what's the deal? You hate Sonny Corinthos, or at least you used to say it all the time. Now he is your son-in-law."
"I think Corinthos and I have come to a silent agreement to act civil towards one another because of Carly and Bobbie. We both love them so even though we don't like one another we try to get along." Scotty explained.
"Understanding family." She commented, wishing her brother would be more like that towards her relationship with Jason and Carly.
Scotty discussed how he wanted the meeting to go as they drove to the Deception office. He wanted it to be civil as possible. After all, Scotty had loved Laura for a good deal of his life and Gia was almost her daughter-in-law. He also wanted it to be short and sweet.
Elton buzzed them in. When Gia and her lawyer entered the office, Laura stood. Gia tried to read her face. She seemed angry but looked tired as well. Laura probably missed Nikolas as much as she did. Gia and Scotty sat across from Laura. He pulled out a copy of the contract.
"As you know, Laura, there is nothing in the contract that states you can fire Gia. She signed a five year deal which ends the end of this year." Scotty began. "You can choose to sign her again or search for a new model. Until then, you must continue to use her in your ad campaigns."
"I understand that." Laura said. "That's why I want to ask Gia to step down. We will pay her for the remainder of the year."
"I don't want to step down. I like modeling." Gia said, calmly. She was going to keep the job no matter what it took.
"Fine." Laura's tone was icy. Gia could tell that she had been talking to Nikolas some more. Maybe he had twisted the story of their relationship to make her look bad in Laura's eyes or maybe Laura couldn't get past the idea that Gia caused Nikolas to turn bad.
"Laura, I advise you to set your personal feelings aside. This is business, and Gia's ads turn your company a lot of profit. Gia has stated that she is willing to be civil towards you, will you do the same in return?" Scotty asked.
Laura laughed a little, like she didn't believe Gia would follow through with her promise. "I'll try. But I can't promise anything."
Gia smiled. "We'll try together." She looked at Scotty. "Is that all?"
Scotty stood up. The meeting was fast like he wanted but he could still feel the tension in the air. "Yes. Let's go, Gia."
When they were in the elevator on their way down to the garage, Gia turned to him. "I am going to make the summer and fall campaigns Deception's most successful ever. I'll smile, I'll be civil, and I'll bring Deception lots of money. Then when Laura begs me to resign, I'll drop her." She muttered, still angry over the look Laura had given her when she was about to leave. "I suppose that makes me a real nasty piece of work."
Scotty didn't know how to answer that. "Not as bad as some, but I definitely advise you to rethink your actions."
"I'll keep it in mind." Gia said. "I think I'll go to Kelly's, get a sundae or something. Thanks again, Scotty."
"No problem." He watched Gia walked off, and just shook his head.
****
Carly smoothed Adella's wild hair and looked across the table at Michael. He was talking a mile a minute. She swore that they were gone for more than just a day. Her son wanted to tell her everything.
"And Gia played with me." He added. "And she put Adella to bed. I really like her. I am glad that I have a new friend."
"That's
great Michael." Carly smiled at him, and looked down at Adella. "I can't wait for you to meet you baby
cousin. He is so cute. You two will get along just great, I know
it."
Sonny sipped his coffee. They had arrived home from Courtney's just in
time for supper. He had spent some time
talking about AJ's visit in the park with Jason. Before they could get too far into it, Jason
got a phone call from Emily. He was in
the kitchen talking to her. Sonny hoped
it wasn't too bad.
The door opened and Sonny and Carly looked up. Gia walked in and smiled when she spotted the two.
"Sorry, I didn't know you guys were home yet." She said. "I was just looking for Jason."
"He's talking with his sister right now." Carly explained. "How did it go with Laura?"
"I got to keep my job." Gia told her.
"And you know what else I like about Gia…" Michael continued his little talk. "She's our neighbor…I can visit her whenever I want."
Sonny and Carly looked at Gia, confused.
"Jason didn't tell you?" Gia asked. "I'm living with him."
