Without Hate - Chapter 5
"You've got the hots for Sonny?" Carly wore a peculiar smirk on her face.
"No." Alexis shouted, causing Michael to burst into tears. Alexis rubbed his back and attempted to shift him on her knee, which seemed to cause Michael to wail louder.
Carly moved toward the baby. "You don't have to upset my son just because you have the hots for..."
"Shut up." Alexis snapped through clinched teeth.
"Hey, is everything okay?" Sonny called out on his way from the kitchen.
As Carly bent to take Michael from Alexis's arms, Alexis spoke to her in a loud whisper. "Carly, not a word about what you think you heard. Do you understand me?"
"What's in it for me?" Carly looked toward the kitchen with a mischievous smile.
"Your life...unless I change my mind."
Carly shrugged and pulled Michael to her arms, just as Sonny entered the room.
"What's going on?" He carried a plateful of baby food, probably something he made himself.
Carly smiled and winked at Alexis. "Alexis and I were just talking about her dream man."
"Let me guess: leather pants and a business suit?"
"I really don't think we should be discussing..." Alexis tried to interrupt.
"Actually, no." Carly turned toward Sonny.
"No?" Sonny's interest peaked. Without meaning to he flashed a dimple. "I'd love to hear more about this."
"Why?" Alexis took in his gorgeous face then thought about the Pandora's Box Carly threatened to open. She slapped her hands on her hips. "Don't you people have anything better to do than talk about me?"
Sonny moved to her side. "Alexis, you are a fascinating woman and I am always interested in learning what makes your very complicated mind tick."
Despite her best efforts, Alexis felt herself blush. She hated the effect this man had on her, but she was helpless to stop it. She took a deep breath to compose herself. The one thing she knew was the worst thing she could do was let a shameless flirt like Sonny know he did anything at all for her. "Many men have tried and failed, Corinthos."
"You see, that's why I'm curious about your perfect man. Go on, Carly."
Carly was fascinated by the way the two bantered. She may not have graduated at the top of her nursing class...or at all, for that matter; however, there was one thing at which she was an expert: male and female relationships. And one thing was clear these two had a thing for each other. But, she needed to know more before she decided what to do with the information. "You're wasting your time, Sonny. When I walked in and saw Michael so comfortable with Alexis; I said it was clear that Alexis's dream man was redheaded and toothless."
Alexis silently breathed a sigh of relief.
"I don't blame her. I've heard Michael cry. I think he's got better pipes than Ned." Despite her best efforts not to laugh, Alexis chuckled.
Sonny departed a short time later, leaving Alexis and Carly with their new secret between them. As Carly moved about the apartment, Alexis traveled close on her heels. "I'm not sure what you thought you heard, but..."
"Alexis, I know what I heard and it's cool. Alexis Davis upstanding citizen and well-known goody two shoes, has a thing for Sonny Corinthos, mob boss and ladies man. Why shouldn't you? Everybody loves a bad boy. From where I sit it's going to be interesting to watch."
"I don't love bad boys. In fact, they scare me. Jax was good. Ned was good. Sonny's a client and we're friends. Nothing is going to happen." Alexis thought for a second. "I am curious, though, if you're so sure about what you heard, why didn't you tell Sonny?"
Carly shrugged. "I guess when it's actually his business, he'll find out. Besides, I'm not as big of a troublemaker as you've heard. If being with Ned keeps you happy and able to represent Jason, I'm not going to do anything to mess it up."
Two days later, Alexis marveled that Carly had been able to keep her mouth shut. She felt herself relax into her routine. A ring of the doorbell changed all that, even if Alexis was upstairs when it happened.
Carly opened the door surprised to see AJ and Ned standing on the other side. Though she wouldn't admit it to anyone, AJ made her nervous. He'd been educated at fancy private schools; she'd barely graduated from the public school she attended. The Quartermaines had ways of saying things to make her doubt herself. "Alexis is upstairs," she spat too fast.
"That's okay. We're here to see you." Ned slipped through the small opening between the door and its frame. AJ followed him before Carly could slam the door.
"I didn't say you could come in." She nervously glanced in the direction of the stairs.
Ned made himself at home on the sofa. Once again, Junior followed.
"Carly, I came with Junior because I wanted to assure you that the Quartermaine family isn't out to get you. We simply want to be a part of Michael's life."
Carly felt her hands shake. "Then why are you trying to send Jason to jail? He didn't do anything. Is that how you treat your own?"
"Jason isn't part of our family. He made sure of that when he took up with the likes of Sonny Corinthos. You can't actually think there's a court out there that will let my son be raised by a hit man and a perpetual drop out." AJ baited her.
"Don't answer that!" Alexis shouted as she headed down the stairs.
"Seriously, Alexis, you may represent Jason but even you know what kind of men he and Sonny are." AJ focused his beady little eyes on Carly.
Alexis coolly stepped between Carly and AJ. "It may surprise you AJ, but courts aren't too fond of alcoholics who've caused their brothers brain damage."
Ned decided to calm the situation. "Alexis, we only came to talk to Carly. I think we can work things out between her and the family peacefully."
Alexis turned to face Ned. "Is AJ willing to drop the charges against Jason without trying to make him give up the rights he has to Michael as the named father on the birth certificate?"
"Absolutely not." AJ shouted.
"Well, we've worked that out and it was relatively peaceful, so I guess you both can go."
"Who are you?" Ned began to light into Alexis. "Are you an official mob mouthpiece?"
Alexis moved to face him toe to toe. "I'm representing my client's interests which you have tried to circumvent. Even so, being a mob mouthpiece sounds a heck of a lot better than being a Quartermaine right now."
"You're unbelievable." Ned shouted.
While Ned and Alexis bickered, AJ moved toward Carly. "You don't really think you can beat me in court, do you, Carly? Do you think Sonny and Jason have the kind of influence with judges that Grandfather has? When are you going to face the fact that you're nothing but trash?"
Alexis glanced over to see Carly frozen like a deer in headlights. She turned toward AJ. "Shut up you little pipsqueak. Why are you in my home?"
"Ned and I thought we'd try and reason with--" AJ started before Alexis cut him off.
"Ned?" She turned to face her former beau. "This was your idea?"
Ned took a deep sigh. "I thought if I could make peace between Carly and AJ, you and I might be able to find our way back to each other."
"If you think watching AJ beat up on Carly does it for me; I'm glad we took a break. Speaking of which, since we are no longer seeing each other, I want you out of my house."
"Alexis, you don't mean that."
"Try me." Alexis walked to the door and held it open. Ned and AJ retreated with their tails between their legs.
Carly straightened herself up. She did her best to cover the fear that paralyzed her a few minutes before. "I could have taken care of them if you hadn't come downstairs."
Alexis nodded. She knew what it was to be insecure even when the whole world thought you were impenetrable. "I know. I just wanted to make clear to Ned and AJ that they weren't welcome in my home." She checked her watch. "I have a meeting with a client. Will you be okay?"
Carly nodded. As Alexis moved toward the door; Carly called out, "Alexis, thanks."
"Don't mention it."
Something surprising happened to Carly that afternoon. She was filled with an excitement she hadn't known before. She was certain she'd just made a female friend, only the second in her lifetime. She would find some way to thank Alexis for what she'd done.
Her eyes closed as she replayed the morning's encounter with Ned and AJ in her mind. She hadn't paid much attention at the time, but she could have sworn Alexis mentioned she and Ned were no longer together. Suddenly, like a flash, a brilliant idea popped into her head. She knew just how to repay Alexis for getting rid of AJ earlier. And it just so happened that this idea would help stick it to Ned as well.
A few hours later, Jason entered PH2. Carly through her arms around him and showered his face with kisses.
"Carly, Carly, slow down." He chuckled. "I swear sometimes you overwhelm me." He planted a tender kiss on her mouth.
She looked at him and grinned. It was a childlike grin that only Carly could give. "See, you don't understand. For a long time, I didn't think you were ever going to be my man, not for real."
"What can I say, you are hard to resist once you get an idea in your head." He kissed her again.
She pulled him to the sofa and practically pounced on his lap. "Jase, speaking of ideas, I have a great one."
"What is it this time?"
"We're going to help Sonny and Alexis get together."
