Carly slammed the door in frustration as she entered her penthouse. She sat down on the couch and rested her head in her hands. She couldn't believe Brenda's nerve. How the hell did she know about her and Lorenzo anyway? Not that it at all mattered. She groaned loudly and slammed her fists into her thighs. She didn't even know why she was so frustrated by Brenda. When she had first heard the news about her return to Port Charles she hadn't even been fazed. But the first sight of Brenda just brought back the old feelings of competition. Carly knew Brenda was just waiting for the right moment to run to Sonny with what she knew. Not that it wasn't the truth, but it came down to the fact that Carly just couldn't stand to have Brenda win. If she was the one that tells Sonny about her feelings for Lorenzo, then that means that she's won. And, no matter what Carly's feelings were, she was not about to let Brenda get her way. Carly ran a hand through her hair and turned towards the door to see Sonny walking in.

"Hey."

She stood up and took a few steps towards him. "Hi. How was your day?"

Sonny shrugged. "You know."

She nodded. "Hey, I was just thinking, how about we go out tonight? Just you and me. The Grille, maybe?"

Sonny stared at her for a moment. "I, uh, I don't know if I'm really up to- "

Carly interrupted him, taking a few steps forward. "It'll be good for us, Sonny. It'll give us a chance to talk and get reacquainted with one another."

Sonny thought about it for a moment. "Yeah, okay."

Carly smiled. "Great." *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~**~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~ Brenda was sitting on the couch flipping through a fashion magazine as Jason walked through the door.

"Hey!" She said tossing the magazine on the couch and standing up quickly.

He looked at her through narrowed eyes. "Hi." He already knew she was up to something.

She bit the corner of her lip as she walked towards him. "Let's go out tonight."

Jason just stared at her.

Brenda continued on. "Come on, Jase! I've been sitting in this penthouse all day. Do you know how bored I've been?"

Jason shook his head. "What exactly do you have in mind?"

Brenda grinned. "Ohhhh, um, how about The Grille?" Her eyes lit up. "Yes, it'll be great!"

Jason let out a heavy sigh. "Alright, alright. We'll go to The Grille."

Brenda squealed happily. "Thank you, Jase! Now, hurry up and change. I'm going to do the same." She headed towards the stairs, continuing shouting instructions over her shoulder. "And don't even think about wearing jeans and a black t-shirt..or that awful leather jacket. You have to dress up to be seen with me."

Jason shook his head as he followed her but he couldn't resist a smile. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~* ~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*

Carly smiled at her husband who was sitting across from her. The conversation had come to a halt and she could easily feel the slight tension between them.

"It's so unlike you to be so quiet." He sat back in his chair, arms crossed across his chest.

"I'm not the same person anymore, Sonny."

He nodded slightly and looked away from her.

She sighed heavily, looking down at her hands, then towards the door where she noticed Jason entering. She smiled and began to wave when she noticed the small brunette next to him. "Great." She mumbled more to herself but loud enough for Sonny to hear.

Sonny turned to follow her gaze and noticed Jason and Brenda walking towards the bar. He wrinkled his face, a twinge of jealousy soaring through him at the sight of Jason's hand on the small of her back. He turned back towards Carly.

She took a sip of her wine as she watched him, knowing exactly what was going through his mind.

Jason led Brenda to the bar and ordered them drinks as they awaited their table.

"Sonny and Carly are here. I'm going to say hello."

Brenda glanced over to Sonny and Carly's table and nodded. "I'll wait here."

She turned back as the bartender placed her drink in front of her.

A voice spoke from behind her. "Ms. Barrett, I presume."

She clearly stiffened at the sound of the voice and turned to face a smiling Lorenzo Alcazar.

"No need to be frightened, Ms. Barrett."

Brenda eyed him suspiciously. "Why would there be any reason for me to be afraid of you?"

Lorenzo shook his head. "There isn't."

She let out a frustrated sigh. "Was there something you needed?"

Lorenzo shrugged and smiled. "I'll let you know if anything comes up."

She glared at him. "What makes you think there is a single thing that I would ever help you with?"

"Now, there's really no need for hostility, Ms. Barrett. I simply wanted to become acquainted with the love of my brother's life. The woman he died for."

"Luis didn't die for me." Her voice was raised slightly.

"That's right, he died because of you."

She blinked several times, holding back the anger that was rising up in her.

"How dare you say that I'm the reason Luis died. I wasn't the one who killed him." She nearly spat the words at him.

"Hey, calm down Ms. Barrett, I don't hold a grudge against you. Alexis Davis is ultimately responsible for my brother's death, but even you must admit if it weren't for you he would have never come to Port Charles."

Brenda shook her head. "He would have never come to Port Charles if it weren't for his sick, twisted obsession."

"My brother was very much in love with you. I myself realize the lengths a man is willing to go through for the woman he loves."

Brenda realized what he was referring to. She nodded and cocked her head to the side. "So tell me, Mr. Alcazar, what are the lengths you are willing to go to for Carly?"

Lorenzo took a step towards her. "You shouldn't be sticking your nose where it doesn't belong."

She stepped forward as if to challenge him. "Or what?"

Lorenzo sighed and stepped back. "Like I said before, you don't need to worry, I'm not going to hurt you. My brother was in love with you; he wouldn't want a hair on your head touched."

"Oh, I'm not worried in the slightest."

Lorenzo smiled. "Well, Ms. Barrett it was indeed a pleasure." He reached out to kiss her hand.

"Stay away from her."

Both Lorenzo and Brenda turned to see Sonny standing a few feet away, his eyes dark and angry.

He stepped forward, placing himself in between Alcazar and Brenda. "Don't come near her again." Sonny led Brenda back towards the bar and away from Alcazar.

"Are you alright?" He reached out and touched her shoulder.

"I'm fine." She took a seat on one of the stools. "He looks exactly like Luis."

"I'm sorry you had to run into him." She smiled slightly. "It's not your job to keep him away from me."

He nodded.

"So, where's Carly?"

Sonny looked out towards the doors. "On the terrace with Jason. She needed air."

She nodded and studied him for a moment. "How are things going with the two of you?"

He took a moment to respond. "I'm going to lose my wife." His voice was barely a whisper.

Brenda reached out and placed a hand on his cheek. Her heart was breaking for him.

Sonny allowed himself to look into her eyes. In an instant he became almost unaware of his surroundings. The reality of the words he had spoken seconds ago sunk into him, but in that one moment, he didn't care.

Lorenzo peered at Sonny and Brenda from around the corner. He didn't know what the history was between the two of them but he could tell it was intense. He had seen something in Sonny's eyes when he was telling him to stay away from Brenda that Lorenzo had never seen before. Not even when Sonny was telling him to stay away from Carly. Lorenzo smiled to himself as realization settled upon him. He finally figured out what was going to drive Carly straight into his arms. Ms. Brenda Barrett.