CHAPTER 5

Years of physical and verbal abuse would turn any teenage girl into a shrinking violet. But thanks to Bo Brady's and Carly Manning's blood flowing through her veins, Olivia Alamain was very much her parents' daughter; the turbulent years of her young life had merely toughened rather than break her. So other than being startled, the woman's (whom she guessed was her father's soon-to-be ex-wife) angry tone didn't affect her. Instead, she got up with the grace and dignity inherited from her mother.

'Hello. You must be Mrs Brady.' she said politely, moving forward. 'My name is Olivia Alamain.'

The name meant nothing to Hope and the English accent threw her off for a second but she was bent on getting answers. 'What are you doing in my house? And where's Bo?'

'He had to step out for a moment. He'll be back soon.' I hope, Olivia added silently.

'You still haven't explained your presence.' Hope coldly reminded her.

Olivia pondered on whether or not to come clean now or wait for Bo. She chose the latter. 'Actually, I'm sort of a house guest.'

'House guest?' Hope snapped incredulously. 'In my matrimonial home?'

'He said you moved out...'

'THIS IS STILL MY HOUSE!' was the angry reply. 'My God! Just how old are you, anyway?'

'I beg your pardon?' Olivia asked, astonished.

'Cut the aristocratic crap, it's not going to work. You do realize Bo, my husband, is old enough to be your father? I cannot believe he would stoop this low!'

'No, no, no!' Olivia exclaimed, quite shocked. 'You think... no, it's not what it looks like, really!'

'If it isn't then who the hell are you?'

Olivia was suddenly angry in turn. Just who did this arrogant woman think she was, talking to her like this?

'Sorry, I'm not in the liberty to say.' she replied, coldly. 'Like I said, my... Bo will be back any minute and he will straighten this out.'

Hope gaped. 'Are you trying to be smart with me?'

'No.' Olivia's anger rose several notches. 'I just don't feel l need to explain myself to a woman who would rate her own husband this low. No wonder your marriage is on the rocks, if this is what you always do to him!'

This hit a nerve and Hope completely lost her temper. 'You either tell me what I want to know or I'll drag you out of here myself!'

'GET STUFFED!' Olivia snarled.

'Hey! What's going on here?' Bo demanded, slamming the door behind him. Olivia breathed a long sigh of relief.

Hope turned to him without further ado. 'Exactly what I want to know, Brady! Who is this?' jerking a finger towards Olivia's direction.

'Don't you point that finger at me!' Olivia snapped.

'Olivia!' Bo admonished.

'She thinks we're sleeping together!' was the indignant reply.

Bo stared at Hope. 'Are you kidding me?'

Hope folded her arms, glaring at him.

'Here.' Bo tossed the purse towards Olivia and she caught it deftly. 'Go upstairs. '

'WHAT?!' shouted Hope.

Ignoring her, Bo fixed his eyes on Olivia. 'Upstairs. Now.'

Olivia obeyed, her boots making loud thuds on the stairs. She hadn't envisaged the wife Bo had mourned so deeply and then miraculously reunited with to be a First-class bitch; where on earth did she get off having such a preposterous idea and about Bo of all people. Her lover indeed!

'What the hell's the matter with you- how could you talk to her like that?' Bo demanded angrily.

'Oh, I'm sorry, next time I'll remember to be more civil to the next bimbo I find sleeping on my couch!' Hope knew she was acting childishly but she was too unnerved at the sight of the beautiful girl to care how she sounded.

'Don't call Olivia a bimbo again. Ever. And I'll like you to stop with the outraged wife routine.' Bo's low voice spelled danger to anyone who knew him as well as Hope did. Stubborn though she was, she knew when to back down. Sullenly, she bit her lip.

The doorbell rang and Bo swore loudly. 'CHRIST! What now?' He moved to open the door, inwardly groaning at the figure on his doorstep.

'Hey, Bo.'

'What do you want, Justin?' Bo asked, exasperated as his cousin stepped past him.

'Roman told me you were back and I was in the neighbourhood so... oh, hi Hope.' A curt nod was the only reply to his greeting.

Puzzled, Justin Kiriakis looked at her , then at Bo. 'Did I come at a bad time?'

'Actually, you did. If you'll excuse us...'

'NO!' Hope cut in, glad an ally was there to be on the ring side seat. 'Justin's not going anywhere. He's family so he should hear your explanation as well.'

'What explanation?' asked Justin, confused.

Bo felt he was helplessly fighting his way through a very thick fog. 'This has nothing to do with Justin, it's between you and me!'

'The hell it is!'

'Will one of you tell me what the hell is going on here?' Justin snapped, irritably.

'This should be interesting enough.' Olivia remarked sarcastically, climbing down the stairs. Justin took one look at her and backed away, stunned. 'NO WAY!' he exclaimed.

WHAT WAS THIS NOW? 'Wait a second... you know her ?' Hope gasped incredulously.

'I thought I told you to wait upstairs.' Bo scolded as Olivia moved to his side.

'And I couldn't let you face the music alone. This concerns me as well , I'm not going to hide in the shadows.' Olivia replied, raising her chin, her green eyes flashing fire.

I'm not going to cower in the shadows while you play the detective; I DON'T need a man to run things for her!... were the words Carly had hurled at him so many years ago. At that time she'd been framed for Victor's supposed murder and while she'd trusted Bo to protect her and prove her innocence, she'd also refused to play the role of the damsel in distress and had insisted on being a part of the investigation. Why should he expect their daughter to be any different? Bo couldn't help the smile tugging at his mouth as he looked at the defiant girl.

'Bo... who's this?' Justin asked faintly, looking as if he'd seen a ghost.

'This will come as a shock, Justin but...' Bo ruffled Olivia's curls before slipping his arm round her. 'This is Olivia, my daughter.'

Hope looked as if she'd been slapped hard. Justin stared at the girl.

'But Bo... she... she looks exactly like...'

'I know. And that's because she's Carly's daughter, and mine.'

'You have a child outside our marriage?' Hope shouted, thoroughly angry now. 'You mean you cheated on me? And you had the nerve to bring her into my home!'

'No, Hope wait!' Justin jumped in as she moved to the door. He grabbed her arm but she shook it off as if Justin was a buzzing fly and stalked out, slamming the door behind her.

Olivia winced, distressed. 'Oh, dear...'

'Hey, hey!' Bo hugged her, kissing her cheeks. 'Don't start blaming yourself; none of this is your fault. When she's simmered down, she'll get the whole story.'

'Hello!' Justin said, totally confused. 'I'm still here, so I might as well hear it.'

'No sweat. But first things first. Olivia, this is my cousin- Justin Kiriakis.' Olivia moved forward, hand outstretched. Justin automatically took it, trying to gather his thoughts. Carly had died before she and Bo could have kids, how on earth did this development come about?

'Hello.' he managed.

'Hello. I'm Olivia Alamain.'

Alamain? Justin couldn't take it anymore.

'One of you better start talking... before I really lose it!'