Chapter 7

Before Carly had left town, she'd acted strangely enough to make Vivian suspect she was doing drugs but Gus was unable to find anything to prove it, much to her disgust. If Carly thought she was safe from her, she had another thing coming; she wasn't going to rest until she broke her completely for Lawrence's murder. She was however pleased with two things; that Bo Brady had left her for his wife and her precious Nicholas showed no signs of reconciling with her. That would've really rattled her.

Taunting Carly verbally no longer worked; Carly was so stolid that she didn't even need her defenders who always materialised whenever Vivian attempted to upset her; Melanie, Daniel, Adrienne and, to her great annoyance Brady, who threatened to toss her into the nearest dumpster if she bothered Carly again. But Vivian was nothing if patient. Carly was going to be punished and it would be worse than what she'd done to her beloved nephew.

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'Calm down, Mum... you're not walking down the green mile.'

'I don't think I can do this.' Carly said, pacing agitatedly. 'I must be out of my mind, why did I say yes?'

After wrapping up his business, which was actually buying a dying magazine to add to his chain of newspapers, Tony had gone back to New York. But he'd kept a regular correspondence with her, telephoning her as often as he could. It's been three months since the accident and Carly was back on her feet; carrying out her duties as a doctor with renewed vigour, refusing to think about Bo or allow the lingering pain to resurface.

Tony was back in town. He'd unexpectedly called on her at the hospital and asked her if she would have dinner with him later. Carly told herself it was just dinner with a friend, not a potential lover; she wasn't interested in Tony that way, even though he was very good looking and obviously liked her very much.

'Mum, you should've guessed at some level, Tony will ask you out. He's a good guy, you said so yourself.'

Carly couldn't argue with that, he was an interesting man. On the first evening they'd spent in each other's company she found out a lot about Tony. Son of Italian immigrants, he was orphaned at age five and raised in Queens by his father's brother Vito. He'd gone to Yale on a football scholarship and slowly built himself an empire. And he had a 25 year old son; Gianni who was his second in command. When Carly asked if he was divorced, he told her he never married Gianni's mother. Veronica had wanted to abort the pregnancy and he'd forked over half his savings to pay her not to; which she'd greedily accepted. Since then, no serious relationships despite the paparazzi saying otherwise.

It's just dinner; only dinner, she told herself firmly. It's not going to go further than that.

With that assurance, Carly ran a hand over the dress she'd chosen for her date; simple but expensively cut deep green silk. She'd wanted to pick something red, which was her favourite colour until she remembered that Bo had always liked her in red. She wanted no reminders of him hence the green and a pair of small emeralds, no chain.

The intercom finally buzzed. Hand shaking, Carly pressed the button. 'Tony?'

'The one and only.'

'I'll be right down.'

Melanie handed Carly her purse and velvet coat. 'Don't wait up, okay Mel?'

'I'm ignoring that, so forget it. Store the details for me Mum.' Melanie kissed her. 'And have a great time.'

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For the fifth time in a row, Bo glanced at Carly's apartment building. He couldn't stand it anymore; he needed to thrash things out with her once and for all, whatever she said. He missed her terribly and the callous way she'd been avoiding him added to his misery. It was no use fronting; he loved her with all his heart and soul, more than ever before. He'd allowed guilt and obligation to stand between them and he had to make things right. Nothing was more important than having Carly back in his arms again.

Silently, he rehearsed his speech one more time. Princess; I made a huge mistake and caused you a lot of pain. I need you to give me another chance and forgive me because I know you still love me as much I love you and together we can take on anything and anyone!

With that firmly in mind, he brushed back his hair with both hands before reaching for the bunch of orchids on the passenger seat.

As he got out of the car, he noticed somebody standing by the lamp post in front of the building. After a closer look he recognised him; the careless fool who'd almost killed Carly. What the hell was he still doing in town and standing in front of her building?

The glass door opened and his heart raced on seeing Carly all dressed up. Was she going out?

'Tony.' He clearly heard her say. 'I hope I didn't keep you waiting.'

What the hell's going on? Bo thought in disbelief and shock as the suited son of a bitch hurried over to Carly, handing her a single rose and kissed her on the cheek.

'You look beautiful.' Tony said, eyes going over her appreciatively.

'Thanks, you don't look bad yourself.' Carly felt some of the tension weighing her shoulders melting away. 'So where are we going?'

'Some place that's a perfect setting for you. Come on.' He walked over to his car and opened the door for her, neither of them of course realising they were being watched.

Bo wasn't sure if it was shock or rage that paralyzed him but after watching they drive off, he used his free hand to savagely crush the orchids' heads and flung them away.

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'You're 'specially beautiful tonight, Carly.' Tony commented. 'Must be the colour of your dress, suits you fine.'

Carly shook her head at him. 'I thought it was the French who go out of their way at flattery.'

'The French stole that from us, kid; we perfected that art.' He retorted, smiling.

Carly laughed.

'Finally, the lady laughs. You just made my evening.' He reached out to take her hand, rubbing the back with his hand. 'I really needed to see you again Carly, that's why I came back to town. The past months I kept thinking about you.'

Carly felt her shoulders go rigid again. 'Oh?' she said, forcing her tone to be light.

'You're a very beautiful, classy lady. I'll come straight to the point; I want to be more than a friend to you, Carly.'

Carly withdrew her hand, shaking her head. 'I can't be more than a friend, Tony.'

'Is it because of that cop? You're still hung up on him?'

'It has nothing to do with Bo.' Carly denied. 'It's just...' she sighed. 'I have a very complicated past.'

'Who doesn't?' Tony shrugged nonchalantly.

'Believe me, it's very complicated. And I don't want to be in a relationship; ever again. '

'That's very harsh, Carly. Whatever your past is and whatever that Bo guy did to you, you can't let it stand in the way of happiness.'

'After all I've been through, I rather not. I have my work, I have my daughter and I'm more than satisfied.

'What happened between you and Bo?'

'I don't want to talk about it.' Was the firm answer. 'I just want to put the whole mess behind me forever.'

'That bad?'

'Yes, that bad.'

'Excuse me, Dr. Manning.' A waiter came forward, placing an open bottle of Dom Perignon resting in an ice bucket on their table. 'Compliments of Ms. Alamain.'

Carly's face wore a look of utter fury, to Tony's amazement. 'Where is she?'

The waiter pointed. Vivian was at a table some yards away with her ever present henchman. When she saw Carly was looking at her; she raised her glass, a sardonic smile on her face.

Carly said in a cold, tight voice, 'Take it back to her.'

'Excuse me?'

'You heard me; I don't want anything from that woman. Take it out of my sight.'

Bewildered, the young man hurriedly obeyed.

'Who's that woman? She looks like a barracuda.'

'You don't know the half of it. Not only is she part of my complicated past, she ruined my life and took everything I held dear.'

'What did she do to you?' Tony demanded. A thought struck him. 'Alamain. Is she related to Lawrence Alamain, that statesman who was murdered?'

'He was my husband. He and that bitch over there, who happens to be his aunt, caused me nothing but heartache and pain. It's a wonder I'm still alive now.' Carly's voice shook with pent up rage. 'Is this the type of woman you want to be in a relationship, Tony? Not in a million years. This was a big mistake.' Throwing down her napkin she got up abruptly, not caring if Vivian was watching the scene gleefully.

'Hang on, where are you going? Carly!' Tony hurried after her as she walked out of the dining room. 'Carly, will you stop and talk to me?'

'I can't see you again, Tony; I'm sorry.'

'But...'

'Please, either take me home or I'm calling a cab.'

Tony naturally chose the former.

As he drew up in front her building, Tony touched her shoulder as she was about to open the door.

'Carly; I don't want to stop seeing you. Whatever pain you went through in the past...'

'Tony...'

'You don't have to tell me about it now. But I'm here for you, whenever you're ready. I really care about you, Carly and you can trust me.'

Can I? Carly thought doubtfully. She'd struck out more than enough when it came to trusting men. Lawrence, Victor and then Bo; the one true love of her life. And she honestly didn't want to involve Tony too deep in her personal life.

'I'll bear that in mind.' She said at last. 'Thanks for dinner.' Leaning over, she kissed on the cheek. 'Good night.'

'Goodnight kid.' He replied, watching her leave. He wasn't prepared to give up on Carly who he was already in love with. Somehow he will heal her heart and get her to love again.