True Love Once One is Removed
Chapter 9: Let the Pieces Fall


Month after month of intense training and finally had come the time for action. Preparation for the ceremony was in order now. Alex well-conditioned was fit to play the role of Princess. After all this was one of her many goals. To seek revenge at the Ireland event, but that was the second night. Her first was to have fun. Which she was going to do just that while in Italy. First a day of quick tutorial notes on what she should know about the Princess and some combat training. Other than that her day was free. Free to roam the beautiful streets of what Italy had to offer. Since tonight was the night she was going to have do a great deal of pretending at the Masquerade Ball. Her evening gown and mask, an outfit of pure quality of the best of the best fabrics. Something her father intended it to be.

'I can't wait for tonight' Alexia thought smiling.

"AJ! Come one, we need to go, the limo is waiting and the jet is fueled. Its time we make our exit." Chris yelled from the bottom of the stairs.

"I'll be down in a minute" was all she yelled back. She felt something about tonight would be more special than... 'normal' she thought. But the word 'normal' seemed to not fit in her vocabulary.

"AJ! Don't make me have to come up there and get you. Because you know I will!" Chris yelled once more.

"I'M COMING!" Alex yelled frustrated. 'Why is he in a big rush, anyways?' she thought.

Alex looked around and swept her eyes across her room once more. As if she was forgetting something. Or had already forgotten something. Maybe it wasn't even that. It could of been the feeling of never seeing the room again, that really got to her. 'Get it together, Alex. This is not the time to be getting nervous. Nothing's going to go wrong tonight. Nothing.' she confirmed in her head as she closed her door.
Unknowing to her it would be the last time she would ever set foot in it again.

********
(Elsewhere)

"Son, are you ready for tonight? I mean I know its only been a few months. But I would really like it if you went." John said to Brady.

"Dad, I'm fine okay. Look, I will go to this fashion party or whatever it is. But only as a Basic Black representative. I mean that is why we are going, right?" Brady asked turning to John.

"No, it involves fashion but its a Masquerade Ball. This is our way of venturing out to possible clients. So if you were asking if this is business related then, yes, yes it is. Is that a problem?" John said smiling.

"No, its not a problem. I was just curious. Especially since my grandfather invited you to tag along. I mean not in a bad sense, I mean you two are both in a competitive industry, that's all"

"So you're in. I mean even Philip is going to learn the ropes. It can't be all that bad if he is taking days out of his break to go, now can it?"

"Yeah, sure whatever you say Dad. Look since I WAS JUST told of this, when is it and how soon do I need to pack?" Brady questioned.

"Umm, about that son. For one thing it is tonight. You don't really need to pack since we can go shopping for our evening wear in one of those lavish stores. But we do need to leave now. Still game?"

"I can not believe this. I mean does Tink even know. Marlena?" Brady said shooting his father one of those famous B.B. looks.

"They are well informed of the situation, now answer my question. Are....you....Brady...Victor...Black,....my son... Game?

And Brady got up from the couch were he had been sitting. Walked over to the closet and got out his leather jacket.

Turning to his father Brady said , "Let's play."

As they set out on an adventure that would lead to new beginnings, and dire consequences.

*********

"Jan, I can not believe you still have all this junk!" Jason said as he picked up pieces and bit of paper from Jan's room.

"Look would you please stop complaining. Your the one who volunteered to help me anyways" Jan quipped back.

"I'm sorry baby. It's just I promised the K-Man to come over and help him pack before he left out to go to Italy" Jason said putting on a puppy dog face for Jan. "Besides I think my hours are just about up. You still have Cynthia and Meems here to help ya out" Jason said putting on a wide grin and pleading eyes asking to be released.

"Fine." Jan mumbled under all the clutter she managed to be in.

"Hey Jase, did you say you were going over to Philip's?" Cynthia inquired obviously interested. "Because if you were, could you deliver a message to him for me?" she said pouting.

"And you know I can't say no to a face as beautiful as yours sweetie." Jason smiled.

"I am in the room!" Jan yelled looking to Jason.

"Hey Jan what is this bag over here from?" Mimi questioned at the bag full of papers and clothes.

"Oh, that is when I was in the hospital. When I had to stay in there a few days after the whole little Chloe incident. Those are just some papers and other junk I had had in my room. You can just dump it." Jan said turning back to the task at hand. The clutter.

"Hey Mimi could you pass me a small piece of paper for me to write my number on. So Jason here can pass it on to Philip for me" Cynthia said turning to face Mimi.

Mimi of course obliged and handed a crumpled piece of paper to Cynthia. Which Cynthia happily wrote her number on. Then handed it to Jason. Last remarks and comments were made but eventually Jason left to go see Philip.

However the significance of the crumpled paper would hold more than just the contents of a girl's number. The crumpled piece of paper held the information of one Christopher Riley.
And the password to something else, only Chris knew of.


********
(Later)

'Now what am I going to do with this' Philip thought. Why he would want Cynthia's number. He wasn't fully over Chloe, he was still healing. He may have lost her a long time ago before her death but he still wasn't ready to move on. Even if he was, it was with another. Yet she was his friend. "This is useless"

"What's useless Phil?" Brady said turning away from the magazine. It had featured an article on the ball itself. Stating all the famous people that were to be there. 'But I didn't think she was going to be there' was what Brady had been thinking up until Philip's outburst.

"This number. I don't want it. Here ya go, Brady. Can't say I never gave you anything." Philip smiled as he walked off to explore other parts of a jet he had rode in once too often.

"Call me Cynthia 721-9045. I'll make it worth your time" Brady read aloud with wide eyes. 'Does this girl sound desperate, no wonder Phil said that. It is useless' was all Brady could think before he flipped it over and got the shock of his life. But he didn't understand why it was.

********

(Elsewhere)

"Hey Mom, me and Belle are just going to chill out in the living room and watch the TV with JT", Shawn said entering the kitchen where his mother, Hope had presently been sitting in.

"Okay, honey" she said as she sipped some of her hot chocolate and continued to read the article in the magazine pasted in her face. Something about the article was off.

Bo entered the kitchen's back door quietly. Wanting to surprise Hope but was unsuccessful.

"Hey Brady!" Hope said smiling and turning around to place a kiss onto Bo's lips.

"You know what. I am going to get you when you least suspect it." Bo laughed.

"Really. Let's see you ha..." Hope was saying but was stopped at the hushed quickness of her husbands actions. His lips attacked her from nowhere and she was forced to surrender to the sweet taste they offered. They ended their session of affection with her coming up saying "I guess I spoke to soon."

"Yes you did. But honey you know I am leaving tonight for Ireland. Because the second night of that ball will be there as you know. Since it appears you are reading all about it." Bo said as he picked up his wife's magazine and eyed her.

"Well, you can't blame me for inquiring into it." Hope smiled innocently.

"No, I can't but I am going to go upstairs and get my suitcases. Can you do me a favor and call a taxi while I shower. That is unless you were planning on joining me" Bo grinned devilishly.

"I think I will stick with the 1st option since OUR sons are in the other room and with a guest. So you go shower." Hope gave Bo a quick kiss before he pealed up the steps to get ready quickly.

Hope sat back in front of the paper and stared at it once more. Then she realized why reading that part was wrong...it had read 'Princess Greta Von Amburg will also be attending the extravagant ball. Sources have confirmed the Princess will be there and be masked in a beautiful evening gown that you will have to wait and see....' it continued on but that wasn't the point.

Hope remembered talking to Greta several days ago. And she never mentioned attending any ball. There was also the fact she hadn't heard from Greta in days.

It was then when Hope felt that maybe her previous suspicions were correct. And she was right about something else. But where had the proof lay.


**********
(Johnson Residence)

"So Rolf you took care of everything? I mean everything being Greta?" Stefano inquired.

"Yes Stefano. The Princess is being kept under lock and key until the mission is through. She is still alive, healthy, and breathing if you are wondering." Rolf smiled.

"Funny, Rolf? Don't make a habit of it..." Stefano started. "...Aw tonight my precious Alexia becomes her. After months and months of preparation for this. The night has finally came about. Tonight she will become her." Stefano smiled as he got up from his seat. A servant had came in signaling for them to exit. As the limo had arrived for them to be escorted to the awaiting jet and from there they would depart. To fly into Italy.

On the jet, Rolf continued the thought that Stefano had began earlier. "Yes tonight Alexia will become Princess Greta Von Amburg. Much better than Hope was to Gina. Alexia shall portray the Princess very well"......




TBC......