CHAPTER THIRTY

 Meanwhile, back at the ranch…
 

         Earlier that same evening…

          "You might as well tell me. You always feel better when you tell me what's on your mind and we both know it."

         "And we both know that you won't let up on me until I tell you whatever it is you think is on my mind."

         "Not think…know."

         "Why don't you jump on your horse and go rescue someone else? Damn you and your white knight syndrome."

         Jax just grinned at Carly. "C'mon, princess…you know  you want to let it all out."

         "I hate when you call me that." Carly tried glowering at him, but it didn't work. A smile tugged at one corner of her mouth, despite herself. It rarely did anymore.

         "No, you don't." Jax said, letting his amusement show in his voice. He and Carly were in their shared office of Club 101. Carly was sitting behind the large white pine desk, and Jax had propped himself comfortably on one rounded corner. Jax watched the fall of golden hair that spilled over her face as she looked down at the papers on her desk. Once again, he reminded himself how diligently Carly had applied herself to everything concerning the club… The princess nickname had come as Jax had watched how demanding she was with everything from the design to the menus. She'd known exactly what she wanted, and had demanded nothing less than what her vision required. And the results had been stunning.

         In spite of himself, he'd come to see that the ex-Mrs. Corinthos had had some qualities worth admiring. She was headstrong, impetuous and had a fuse on her temper that was firecracker-short, but she was everything he'd thought her to be, but also so much, surprisingly more, he'd soon come to realize. It had been a revelation. What had begun as a chance to help a woman out of a distasteful situation – and – he had had to admit to himself, a chance to stick it to Corinthos on a new front – had metamorphosed itself into something entirely different. And he'd come to see Carly in a whole new light – as a person in her own right, not just Mrs. Corinthos. Somehow, he cared. And because of that, he pushed at her again. "And don't try and change the subject."

         Carly shook her head, exasperated. He wouldn't leave her alone unless she told him what had happened today. But when she thought about it, it made her blood boil all over again.

         She'd gone by the penthouse again. She'd been calling ever since she'd seen Sonny and Alexis pull off in their limo. And there had been no answer either for Sonny's private line or his cell. The few times she'd gone by there in person, Johnny had been on his shift, and they both knew she'd get nothing from him. But it was Sunday, and Johnny usually didn't work on Sundays. So she'd taken the chance of dropping by. And it had worked.

         Max was relatively new to the job. He didn't know her well – or the specifics of her relationship with her ex-husband. But he did know that she was the mother of "his" child. And that worked for her. When she stepped off the elevator, Carly was all innocence and light from head to toe, in a golden yellow dress that showed all her best assets but at the same time declared that butter wouldn't melt in her mouth.

         "Just tell me when he'll be back, so I can tell his son… Michael really does miss his daddy. I'm just thinking about my – our – son. I'm really hoping that his father can get back to maybe read him a bed time story over the phone. "

         "Mr. Corinthos' itinerary has his plane leaving for St. Sophia, but I'm sorry, there's no return flight schedule that I know of."

         Carly made her face fall into a disappointed but attractive pout. "Oh, maybe he's gone on vacation." Slanting her eyes up at him slightly, Carly was gratified to see his face take on a very sympathetic expression.

         "Oh I don't think he was. Mrs.. Corinth-" he caught himself as he recalled her now-divorced status; flushing slightly as he corrected himself.  "Ma'am… Miss…ahh... I don't think it was a vacation. He took his attorney with him; you know, Ms. Davis, the lawyer that deals with his .um.. more legal concerns. I'm sure it was just a short business trip. They came in from one trip and hours later were gone again. They only took a small suitcase each."

         He seemed to realize that he was rambling and closed his mouth. Carly knew she'd get little else from him, but what she'd gotten was enough. More than enough. Somehow she managed to keep a calm expression on her face, even though his news was like a shock of cold water to her system. She managed some sort of coherent reply and goodbye before stalking into the elevator. She barely managed to hold on until the doors slid shut behind her before letting loose with a stream of curse words. How could he want to be with Alexis.  She thought with fury.  That dried up, sanctimonious holier-than-thou old hag!

 

         "She thinks just because Sonny takes her business advice that she's got some sort of connection to him on any other level. She's wanted him from the day she's met him." Carly fumed out loud.  It was easy for her to dismiss the fact that Alexis and Sonny had formed a friendship that had nothing to do sex and all to do with trust and friendship. In Carly's mind, men and women didn't have "just" friendships. She'd never been friends with a man she hadn't had sexual attraction to. Otherwise, why bother?  She conveniently forgot the fact that nine times out of ten, it had been Sonny going to Alexis and not the other way around. It was much easier to blame everything on Alexis.

         She gave Jax the sanitized version, editing out the half-truths and manipulations. It was enough. And instead of chastising her on the dishonesty that she showed Sonny's bodyguard, Jax as usual, went straight to the heart of the matter. "Why did you go there? What did you think you were going to accomplish except hurting your ownself? Why are you doing this to yourself?"

         She didn't have an answer to that. She wasn't sure if she'd like it if she did. Damn you Jax! She said in her head. The pain in her heart outweighed her common sense and out of sheer habit, she took shelter in a flurry of painful words.  "Look, this don't have nothing to do with the club...so why don't you just save the saving for someone else! Why are you all up in business that isn't yours!? Just because you hate Sonny?" As usual, when in pain, her instincts led her to attack, and as always unerringly sought out and found the most tenderest spot. "Brenda is nothing but so much history now…so why all the hatred for Sonny today?"

         It was an old wound, but  her words peeled back the scab and it still managed to hurt with a searing pain. Jax stood and walked out of the office, not stopping until he was out in the hall leading back into the club.  Why are you all up in business that isn't yours!?     

         "Maybe just because I don't want to see you hurt anymore, Carly." Jax said aloud.  He walked into the club, nodding and smiling mechanically to the patrons who crowded the room  and made his way to the bar. "Vodka. Neat." He called out to the nearest bartender.

         "Make it two."

         Jax didn't move but waited for his drink to be served. He downed it in a single gulp. Moving to take the space beside him, Mason Lane reached for his glass and did the same. "Prosit." He said in a toast before draining the glass.

         Jax drained his shot glass. The drink did nothing to lighten his mood and so he turned an irritated eye to his sometimes business compatriot.

         Mason returned his look with a laugh. "What is it Jax?" he taunted…you look like a man with women problems. Which is it, the ex-wife or the current partner?"

         Jax was hardly amused. "Why are you still here in PC, Mason? Which one is it? My ex-wife or my business partner?" He shot back, feeling a sudden need to emphasize the business in business-partner.

         " I think your business partner is more available." Mason countered. "You're ex-wife seems otherwise occupied."

         That brought to mind subjects he'd rather not face right now. " I could say the same for Carly. She's doesn't need a distraction right now."

         "Is that how she's described me? As a distraction?" Mason laughed. "I hardly think she'd agree with you." He signaled to the bartender to refill their glasses and that was done, he raised his glass to Jax. "I continue to be interested in Caroline for the same reason you continue your partnership. She has a way of getting under your skin, doesn't she?"

         Jax didn't answer, which gave Mason all the answers he needed. He laughed again, slapping one hand on Jax's shoulder. "It's no shame to admit it."

            "You must have a death wish, my friend. One week you're flirting with Alexis, the next with Caroline Corinthos."
           

            "Caroline Benson, isn't it?"
           

            "I haven't noticed HER using any name change. And it could be that the maybe ex- Mr. Corinthos might not take too kindly to any friend of mine dating his maybe ex- Mrs. Corinthos either."  Jax sent an unspoken plea heaven-ward. Although he wouldn't wish Sonny Corinthos on his worse enemy, he couldn't think of another way to get Alexis out from under his influence. It was clear from his earlier conversations with Ned, that she was slipping deeper into his world every day.

            "What's life without a little danger to add some spice to it. It makes the stew all the more savory."

            "Have you ever heard of too many spices spoiling the pot?  That's what you're doing if you're planning on playing both Alexis and Carly? Two more different women I can't think of."

         Mason shrugged. "I'm a man of varied tastes. And I like to indulge myself in all the flavors the lovely women in this world have to offer."  He looked closer at Jax "Is that why you're out here, drinking neat shots of vodka? Has she gotten under your skin? And she's done something to make you very, very mad, hasn't she, my friend? I can see how a woman like our Caroline could drive you to distraction – or drink. She's stubborn, self-centered, and selfish, but despite all of that, there's something more to her, the way she lives life...on her terms and no one else's.  There's a certain joie de vivre about her, isn't that true?  And knowing you as I do, my friend, you thought she needed rescuing, but she doesn't, and no doubt she let you know it." He tsked tsked at the other man.  "Wrong move, my friend. But never fear…I'm sure I can get her out of whatever funk you've put her in." He walked away laughing before Jax could respond.

         Jax started after him, something unnamable and indefinable inside him was telling him to go after Mason and get some answers out of him.. something just wasn't sitting quite right with him regarding Mason's all too glib answers, but before he could pursue the matter.  he was halted by the insistent shrilling of his cell phone. .He answered it. "Hello? Skye? Wait a minute." He tried to slow down her frantic words. "What's this about AJ?"



**

         Carly stared at the door, a shade of regret already in her eyes even as the door closed quietly behind Jax. The fact that he didn't slam out of the office, spoke volumes about how much he'd hurt him… and that was when she'd realized how much she had actually hurt him. His quietness struck at her worse than any amount of shouting from him could have done. She hadn't meant to strike out at him, she hadn't meant to hurt him… not like this…. Jax had been nothing but kind to her since Sonny had thrown her out of his life.

         She looked around the office, suddenly miserable. Here she was, sitting in the middle of her dream, and it had been Jax that had made it all possible. He'd given her dream wings to fly with and look at how she repaid him. Carly bit her lip. One more time she spoke first and thought about it later. Jax knew her well enough she'd explain it to him and things would be all right between them. Wouldn't it?

         A noise from the hallway momentarily distracted her from her thoughts and a hopeful smile crossed her face. That was Jax now, coming back to see how she was. Carly knew what to do. She do something silly to make him call her princess again, and then they'd share a laugh and somehow, everything would be all right. Struck by a sudden idea, she grinned triumphantly. She'd even have a drink, one of his favorites, ready for him… it was just the plan she needed; Carly's lips curved upwards in a smile and she laughed aloud. Tonight, she was going to make things up to Jax. He'd be impossible to work with otherwise. At least that's what she told herself. Admitting that she'd done something wrong was not a part of her mental make-up, not even to herself.

         Moving quickly to the side bar, she set out two glasses, hand automatically reaching for the brandy and had the decanter uncorked and halfway to a pouring position before she caught herself. Damn, she thought to herself, brandy was Sonny's drink. When was she going to get that man out of her system? Never, probably. And it was the same for him; they were in each others' blood and that would never change. . Carly sat the decanter back its place and reached for the vodka instead. Russian vodka was Jax's choice of drink. On ice and with a twist of lemon. Of which there was none on the bar. She'd have to go out front to get some fresh slices. And no dubt run into Jax in the hallway. Oh well, she thought,  that would make it that much easier to get him back into the office.

         Carly walked to the door. What was taking him so long? She thought she heard a voice, talking quietly. Ah, she thought, he was probably on the phone. Doing something outrageous, like ordering her a dozen yellow roses. Or two dozen maybe. He'd done things like that before, whenever she'd get into a funk over loosing Sonny and her marriage. It was just like him. She'd have to think of something to surprise him with one of these days. And soon.

            She didn't know why she'd done it, but Carly cracked the door open as quiet as she could. Carly knew whatever Jax was planning was meant to be a surprise, but  she could never resist not finding out. She was startled to recognize the voice as being Mason's instead of Jax. But the nosiness in her prompted her to listen on his conversation.

            He was standing in the hall a few feet from the door, his back turned away. No doubt he'd come there for the relative privacy. He probably didn't even know she'd been in the office all this time. "Why yes, I am enjoying myself. It was all that you promised…and more." He laughed. " No, there's no need to worry about me, I never forget where my loyalties lie."

            A wave of heat flushed Carly's face and an angry glint sparked into her eyes. All thoughts of Jax went flying out of her mind..  Mason had been paying very close attention to her lately. But obviously, she hadn't been the only one. Who else was he playing games with?  Who had his loyalty? Who was he making her fool of in front of? The thought of anyone laughing at her filled her with sudden rage.

            She doubted if she'd get a straight answer out of him, he was much too sly for that, so Carly decided to let his own words hang him.  She eased the door open and slipped into the hallway silently.

            "I'll see you as soon as I am able." Mason was saying. "It's just business that keeps me… and you know how I get about business…" he laughed again. "Yes, I always get very involved in my business… you know me so well." Another laugh, pitched low and intimate, set Carly's blood to boiling all over again.  "Too well? Perhaps. Maybe it's time to show more of my unpredictable side."

         Mason ended the call a few moments later. He slipped his cell phone into his inside jacket pocket, and then with turning around, spoke aloud.

            "And Carly" he said, "Next time you want to know what I have to say, you might ask first."