"Excuse me?" Kellie replied, "What was that again? I didn't catch that."
"Like you don't know," Cyrus replied, "Your husband set me up to look like I kidnapped my own mother."
"That's news to me," Kellie said, "I highly doubt Jason would do something like that. Unlike certain individuals, Jason doesn't go after innocent people. Your mother is an innocent person who just happens to have the misfortune of being related to you."
"It's a shame your mother didn't teach you better manners," Cyrus spat, "Oh that's right, she's a dead drugged out whore."
"I can't argue with that description of her," Kellie replied, "I made peace with who my mother was and my relationship with her a long time ago. Can you say the same about your relationship with your mother?"
"I'm surprised your father's associates let you live if you mouthed off to them like that when you ran his organization," Cyrus replied.
"I had other means of getting along with them," Kellie said, "Meanwhile you bluster and try to bully your way into whatever it is you want. Yet with all the power you have seemed to acquire it's never enough. Why is that? You're out of prison and yet all you seem to want to do is antagonize people."
"I would hardly call demanding answers from you regarding my mother's disappearance antagonizing people," Cyrus barked.
"Then you should be talking to the PCPD if you actually didn't do it," Kellie replied, "I certainly don't have answers. If you haven't noticed people are staring."
"I don't know how Jason did it," Cyrus said, "But mark my words, Mrs. Morgan, I will figure it out and when that happens maybe this town won't be singing your praises so much. Maybe they'll find out you have more to do with your father's business than you let on.
Kellie laughed.
"Oh, I'm not joking, Mrs. Morgan," Cyrus replied, "I don't buy the philanthropist widow act you've perfected. You may have everyone else fooled, but not me. Behind all the good deeds, I bet you're definitely your father's daughter."
"I think you're losing it, Cyrus," Kellie said, "You probably need to get some sleep. But then again you probably would think that anyone who does a good deed is doing it try to mask their nefarious intentions because that's what you do. This might be difficult for you to believe but not everyone does good things to cover up bad ones."
"I ought to sue you for slander," Cyrus said.
"Take it up in court then. We're done here," Kellie said, turning her attention back to Valentin
"We're done when I say we're done, Mrs. Morgan," Cyrus boomed.
"Oh we're done, Mr. Renault," Kellie replied, "Now I kindly suggest you retreat before my guard has security throw you out."
Cyrus was seething, "I hope you have better sense, Mr. Cassadine, than to do business with the little gutter snipe."
"It's not really any of your business," Valentin replied, "But for your information, Mr. Renault, Kellie's first husband and I are related. So we do have connections in common."
Security approached the table, "Is he bothering you?"
"I was just leaving," Cyrus replied, storming off.
"He's right," Valentin replied, "You are your father's daughter."
"I never denied it," Kellie replied, "I just choose to make different choices."
"You just wield your power differently," Valentin said, "But you wield it all the same. Some day, you'll come to terms with that. However, your philanthropy is genuine. If what you said about Cyrus Renault doing good deeds to cover up his bad ones and building up his image is true then he sees you as having everything he wants."
"It probably drives him crazy," Kellie replied, shrugging off Valentine's observations.
Valentin shook his head, "If you push him too far, he'll go unhinged."
"Which is why I need information on Cassandra Pierce," Kellie said, "Stop his network and drug ring before that happens."
"I'll ask around," Valentin replied, "But if he's connected to Cassandra that might be more trouble than anyone could bargain for. What I heard about her contacts…"
"I've got a start somewhere. Not to mention the danger of letting those contacts into Port Charles could be worse than facing it head on," Kellie replied, "And one more thing. I hear you and Martin Grey are some kind of friends."
"I don't know if you'd call it that," Valentin replied.
"Whatever you call it," Kellie replied, "Just know that Martin needs Cyrus financially to care for their mother. Not exactly the solution Martin or Florence want. Maybe a friend could help with that no strings attached."
"I'd say that's another favor," Valentin said.
"More like a suggestion," Kellie said, "Contrary to popular belief, I've heard you are occasionally capable of nice things without strings attached."
Kellie and Jason's House
Kellie found Jason in the nursery reading a travel book to Kelsey before her nap.
"Go ahead and finish," Kellie said to Jason when he stopped reading, "Don't let me stop you."
Kellie stood in the doorway listening to Jason read. After they put Kelsey down for a nap, they went downstairs.
"How'd your meeting with Valentine go?" Jason asked as they sat on the couch.
"He's going to check with some of his contacts," Kellie replied.
"How much trouble did he give you?" Jason asked.
"The usual," Kellie said, "Until I reminded him he owed me after Garrett."
"Did you hear anything more about Cyrus while you were there?" Jason asked.
"I heard from Cyrus himself," Kellie said, "He made quite the scene demanding answers about how you allegedly framed him. Johnny got security and he backed off."
"And what else?" Jason asked.
"That sums it up," Kellie said.
"Cyrus said something that got to you though, didn't he," Jason said, "He went off on you looking for anything that would stick to get under your skin."
"He tried," Kellie said, "Accused me of using charitable deeds to hide the fact I've really been working with you and Dad this whole time."
"But you don't," Jason replied, "You shouldn't put any stock in what Cyrus says."
"Cyrus I can ignore," Kellie said, "It's just Valentin made some observations."
"Valentin probably has no idea what he's talking about," Jason said.
"I don't like Valentin any more than you do," Kellie said, "But he is extremely perceptive, especially when it comes to power plays and take overs and reading the players. I can't discount that Jason. Plus Ava was asking me about security for Avery and said she felt better knowing I was watching out for her with everything going on."
"So what did he say?" Jason asked.
Kellie was silent for a moment before speaking, "He made observations about my recent actions, I could take over the business, and that I still exercise a lot of power for someone not in the business so to speak. I can't say that he's wrong about that as much I don't want to admit that. I know I've been the one to say that I'm close the business regardless of not being directly involved. Something about the way Valentine said it makes me wonder how close is too close?"
"Are you thinking you need to take a step back from what you've been doing?" Jason asked, "Because if that's what you need or want, we'll make it happen."
"That's just it," Kellie said, "Having to ask the question and the answer, doesn't bother me as much as I would have thought it would. And that's what is bothering me, that I'm not bothered by where I might draw the line."
"Why would that surprise you?" Jason asked, "In all the years, I've known you, you've never made a decision business related or otherwise you hadn't thought out to the worst case scenario or were willing to live with the consequences. Those aren't decisions you've ever taken lightly."
"Valentine was more right than I thought," Kellie said, "He also said that I wield power like you, like Dad, just not in the same way you do and I have yet to come to terms with that."
"He's not wrong," Jason said, "You've never been entirely comfortable with that type of power even though you have it. But it's also makes the difference between you letting it go to your head or getting carried away with it."
"And if I start getting comfortable with that kind of power," Kellie said.
"Also not a bad thing," Jason said, "You'll still proceed with caution. Make decisions that protect as many people as possible, minimize the fallout. You've always done that. Deep down inside that's who you are, Kellie. That power hasn't changed that. The fact that you question your reaction to what Valentin said and your response proves it."
"I guess it was one thing just making the decisions to have your back at the docks," Kellie said, "Seeing that Florence was safe and whatever else lately. But hearing those observations from an outsider just made it hit differently."
"Anytime you need to talk about this," Jason said, "Or if you need to step back at any time."
"I won't," Kellie said, "Unless it's necessary to keep the kids safe. But for now I think what I'm doing whatever it is, that's our best shot at keeping things stable, peaceful."
"I just want to you know it means a lot to me that you're willing to stick by me through this," Jason said, "Me running the business it was always the plan if something happened. I just didn't think it would happen for a long time."
"Funny how life works like that," Kellie said, "Life is going along and we think we're invincible. Then one day something happens and we're reminded that we're not bullet proof. Which reminds me, Ava passed along some information. She's hearing that your transition to being in charge isn't solid as we would hope. People are wondering who's in charge."
"Hopefully, the funeral will help with that," Jason said, "I had to tell Carly she'd have to rely on Michael or Bobby to escort her to the funeral."
"I'm sorry," Kellie said, "I wish the funeral didn't have to be a show like this. Is the funeral going to be enough to solidify things with the families."
"I hope so," Jason said.
Silence settled between them.
"When's the next meeting with the families?" Kellie said.
"Not for a couple of months," Jason replied.
"Can you call one sooner?" Kellie asked.
"I thought about it," Jason said, "But I could risk coming off more as desperate rather than confident."
"True," Kellie said, "But given the recent increase in violence, changes in leadership, and new players trying to cut in, I would think that would be something the families would rather discuss sooner than later."
"If it were up to you, you'd call a meeting then?" Jason said.
"Yeah, if you call the meeting, you're in effectively stating you're in charge," Kellie said, "At least it'll make the families sit up and take notice."
"It would leave less time for the families to wonder about the transition of power or take advantage of it," Jason said, "If there is the uncertainty about who's running the business than it's going to take some bold moves to make it clear I'm in charge."
"Any families that don't show up would tell you who might not be inclined to respect your authority," Kellie said.
"As well as make it more difficult for someone looking to make a power play to carry out what they planned," Jason said, "I still have to wait until after the funeral."
"But the less notice they get the better in this instance," Kellie said.
