A Cold Truth
"What were you thinking?"
Carly gritted her teeth and stared straight ahead. How many times was she going to have to sit here and listen to that question. He'd asked it a million times already. Even while they ate and drank and made merry. And now, here we go again.
When she'd come out of the PCPD, her cell phone had rang. In her anger, she almost hadn't answered it. And she'd made it clear to her caller quickly enough, that she was in no mood for games. But then, her thoughts had come to dwell oh-so-satisfyingly on revenge. Yes, she would let her caller take her out.. Let Sonny stew on her words for awhile and when he came around to her way of thinking and seeing that she was right, just maybe she wouldn't be do eager to make herself available. Let him sweat on that for awhile.
"Let it go." She gritted to her companion. "Our little tête-à-tête over dessert was fine, but I didn't ask for whine with the meal. And that was on the top of the menu. So could you just continue to drive?" She reached forward and punched the radio buttons on the dash, trying to find a station she liked. But it seemed as though every station was playing stupid, sappy love songs. And she was definitely not in the mood for that. She slapped at the dashboard in a sudden fury.
"Very witty. Caroline. But the question remains to be answered. What were you thinking going to Sonny Corinthos at the police station? Were you going there to offer your ex-husband – comfort? And please – refrain yourself from taking out your obvious frustrations out on my automobile."
"Why did I ever tell you about it?" Carly snapped. "What do you know about me and Sonny?"
"One – you told me because you need someone to vent to," Mason said agreeably, not rising to her baiting tone. "Two – I only know what you tell me about you and your ex-husband. Ex being the operative word here."
"He has a name!" She tired of hearing the term ex-husband. It only brought back memories that made her angrier. That's how Sonny had treated her today; and she wasn't ready to be an ex-anything. To anybody. Sonny least of all!
"Corinthos, then. Forgive me, but he and I are not on first-name basis. In fact, the last time he and I spoke, I do believe it was when he was in the company of his lawyer." He added slyly. He watched out of the corner of his eye to see her reaction. It was immediate.
"Alexis! Do I have to hear her name as well!" Carly snarled the other woman's name. " The less I see of her, the better. The less I hear her name, even more better. So if you want to talk about her, then maybe you should go and see her."
"I came to see you, Carly. Doesn't that count for anything?"
"And why is that?"
"Why wouldn't I want to spend time with such a lovely woman as yourself. Besides, I have a surprise for you."
"A surprise." Carly sounded less than thrilled.
"Come on, you know that you love surprises. And this is one I promise you will not forget."
A little while later, and they were stepping onto Mason's yacht.
"Is this your newest toy?" Carly asked, still in a bit of a snit. Mason only laughed in reply and led her down into a stateroom that was definitely decorated with luxury and self-indulgence in mind. Plush carpets, rich fabrics adorned the room, and the furnishings were obviously the best that money could buy.
Mason took her by the hand and led her to a chaise lounge, upholstered in midnight blue velvety material, and piled high with pillows of different textures and matching colors. Carly sat, stretching her body like a cat, enjoying the feel of the fabrics against her skin. She leaned back as Mason busied himself around the room. He picked up a remote control and pressed a button and with a whoosh, the fireplace mounted on one wall sprang to life.
"Oooh..is this the point where I begin to be impressed?" Carly said.
Mason just laughed. "Perhaps not just yet." He stepped over to the bar and began fixing cocktails. "You still haven't answered my question."
Carly pouted. "About why I went down to see Sonny at the PCPD? Fine. I don't know why."
"I find that hard to believe, Carly. I've never known a woman who didn't know why she did anything that she chose to do."
"I find that hard to believe as well, Caroline." A new voice said.
Carly's head snapped around. Her eyes widened to see Helena enter the room. "Mason's assessment of you is quite correct. From what I've learned of your history, you hardly ever make a move without having a plan in place. Unless of course, you allow your impetuousness to cloud your judgment."
Helena continued to walk into the room. Mason moved to place a plush chair opposite Carly. And as Helena settled herself into it, he returned to the bar briefly, and picking up two glasses, silently handed her one.
She sipped at it. "Delightful." She said, smiling up at him. "You've learned how to serve me quite well."
Mason smiled back at her, then walked over to Carly. He handed her the second glass. "Drink up, Caroline. You look as though you could use it."
Her mind on auto-pilot and still in shock, Carly took the glass and drank from it. "I..I don't understand…" she breathed. She looked from Helena to Mason and back again. "You know Helena?"
"We're partners of a sort.." Mason walked back to the bar and fixed himself a drink. "Business partners."
"I did tell you I had plans for Alexis, and that you would be a part of them, did I not?" Helena told her. "I was going to contact you very soon to put my plans into motion, but your visit to your ex-husband was not a part of them. Whatever did you go there for? A reconciliation with this Corinthos would not set well with what I have in mind at all."
"What do you care about Sonny?" Carly asked. She struggled to sit up straight in the chaise, while at the same time, trying to get her thoughts straight. Prepared for an evening of sensual pleasures, seeing Helena here was been an unpleasant shock to her system. She was having trouble marshaling her thoughts in any coherent fashion.
"I don't care about him at all, except for the fact that Alexis cares about him. That makes him a possible tool to use against Alexis."
"It's just a momentary fling. Alexis is nothing to him but legal briefs and free attorney-client privileges." Carly said.
"Not so, sweet Carly." Mason said. "I have it, as it were, from the horse's mouth. Alexis made it quite clear to me that their relationship was quite serious at this point."
"She would." Carly said.
"Would you believe it if I could produce concrete proof?" Mason told her, eyes shining with amusement. "I have recordings of their private conversations, and I can tell you for a fact. The two of them are indeed, very much in love."
"At first, I was only interested in your Sonny Corinthos as a way to discredit one of her more lucrative clients, but with this new information, it puts a new spin on things. As you can imagine, the thought of Alexis getting a happily-ever-after doesn't sit well with me. May I assume you share that sentiment?"
"Sonny and Alexis and happily ever after? I don't see that happening." Carly said, still refusing to accept the facts Mason had laid before her.
Helena chuckled and shook her head. "What is the saying? Denial is a river in Egypt? My dear, you are floating on a yacht on that very same river." The amusement left her eyes. "But we're not in Egypt anymore, Dorothy."
If she were Dorothy, what did that make Helena? The Wicked Witch of the West? She longed to throw the words in her face, but a sense of self-preservation kept Carly's thoughts from reaching her lips.
"So who are we dropping the house on?" She asked with a show of bravado.
"Brava, Caroline. Well done." Helena laughed out loud. "Funny you should mention that, especially since I recently just did exactly that."
It came to Carly suddenly. "Stefan Cassadine? Your own son?"
"A poor excuse for one and a constant disappointment. And that makes it one down, one to go."
Carly almost dropped her glass. "I may not like Alexis. I may even hate her on occasion, but I've never wished her dead."
"Well, my dear, all that means is that you've set your sights too low." Helena replies. "Or you've never set your sights high enough." She shrugged her shoulders elegantly. "How unimaginative. Why tolerate a rival flaunting their victory in your face?
"She hasn't won!" Carly shot back. "She hasn't got anything to flaunt."
"Hasn't she my dear? Ordinarily, I would agree with you; I find it amusing that the little mouse has managed to inspire such devotion. But alas for you, somehow she has managed it. While you thought your secret assignation with my dear Mason was a fait accompli, your Mr. Corinthos, or should I say your most recent ex-husband – " Having planted the knife, Helena lost no chance to twist the it in a little deeper "He spent the night with her, and one for which she planned - and spared no expense.
"The night of the storm - do you remember it? Or did Mason manage to keep you- ah - otherwise occupied?" She lifted an eyebrow at Mason in amusement. Mason, in return, merely blew her a kiss.
"A gentleman never discusses one charming woman with another."
Helena laughed. "But my dear Mason, we both know that you are no gentleman. She turned back to Carly. "You should see the bill for the flowers alone - enough to fill a greenhouse. Tell me, my dear, is he truly worth it?"
Carly couldn't answer; too much was happening in too short of a space of time.
"Perhaps now you are sufficiently motivated to aid me in ridding Port Charles of your rival." Helena said.
"Alexis is not my rival" Carly insisted.
"Delude yourself if you like." Helena shrugged Carly's opinion away. "Let us refer to her as an obstacle then. And here's what I want you to do..."
When she had finished explaining, Carly sat in stunned silence.
Helena smiled.
