"So you know what I want you to do?" Sylvie smiled at Sophia, rubbing her hand affectionately up the woman's leg.

"Yes, but I still don't see why you have to take her to dinner. Why do you have to go somewhere so romantic and why do I have to take pictures?"

"Because otherwise there is no way her girlfriend will believe the truth. You tried to warn her, she didn't listen. I tried to warn her, she went running back to The States. Now Alex is here trying to win me back and she is willing to sell Piper down the river to do so. You were the one who heard her demand I went to her room, she then said she would only talk somewhere far away from the hotel. She said she knew about us and would tell my husband. I need to protect myself, us, you."

"But how will me taking pictures prove any of that?"

"Look just trust me OK." Sylvie leant across and kissed Sophia deeply, she felt the tall woman melt into her arms and knew all further questions had been forgotten, pulling back slowly she said "OK I'd better go."

o0o

"Nicky just tell them the truth!" Lorna scowled.

Nicky squirmed. "I promised Alex I would keep this quiet. She needs to make sure no-one knows her plan."

"And you think Piper or Polly will tell Sylvie?" Lorna scoffed. "Look, you can see how worried they both are. Piper deserves to know what is going on. If it was me who had left without a word wouldn't you want to know?"

Nicky sighed, nodded, then turned to face Piper who, alongside Polly, had watched the exchange in silence. "Don't think I don't know you invited her along to force my hand!" she muttered, knowing she had been bested and trying to save face. "OK," she took a deep breath. "We heard from Alex. She is in London." She saw Pipers eyes widen and her move to speak. "Its not what you think." Nicky added quickly. "Once Alex had spoken to Boo, found out some of the shit Sylvie had been spouting, she knew she needed to stop it. That only she could stop it. She thought the contact Sylvie had made was a silly game, but she is not willing to let her jeopardise what you have, she wants it to stop. So that's what's she has gone to do."

"And a phone call couldn't do that?" Polly asked dubiously.

"No." Nicky shook her head. "Now I don't know the full history but from the bits Boo told me it sounds like this Sylvie chick is not only a control freak but more than a little delusional. Alex walked away before, but she is not willing to do that this time. So Piper, she will sort this, and she will explain it to you I'm sure. You just need to let her do this her way."

Piper looked at Nicky. "OK." She nodded slowly. "But let me know if you hear from her again. All I want is the truth Nick, its all I wanted from the beginning."

Nicky nodded then looked at Lorna. "OK, so I was promised drinks! Lets go to a bar and get drunk."

"Oh no. It's bad enough we have to go clubbing with Boo tonight without you drinking this early in the day" Lorna stated firmly. "Now you have your dress to meet my parents I thought we could visit the salon and maybe get your hair fixed."

Piper snorted trying to hold back a laugh, earning herself a glare from Nicky who rounded on Lorna. "I have just finished telling Piper how this Sylvie chick is controlling, don't you be following her example."

Lorna laughed and leaned in to kiss Nicky, linking her arms and saying "They will love you whatever. "

o0o

Surveying the restaurant Alex knew Sylvie intended for them to go unnoticed. The secluded booth the maître d' was guiding her too was very private and meant their conversation would go unheard. Glad she had foreseen this possibility Alex fixed a smile on her face and greeted Sylvie.

"Hi, sorry I'm a little late, business call, you know how it is." Indicating she would like a glass of the wine Sylvie was drinking, she watched the man walk away before settling down and facing Sylvie across the table.

"No more games." She started bluntly. "What do you want from me?"

Sylvie reached across to touch Alex's arm "I want to put the past behind us. Go back to how it was."

"Back to when Sylvie? When you convinced me I was not good enough to work for Barney's? When you told me I would never amount to anything because I was as big a low life as my mother? Or, and this is probably my favourite memory, you telling your now husband he should avoid employing me as I was a cheap little lesbian who slept with you to get ahead."

Sylvie face didn't flicker as she sipped her wine. Replacing the glass to the table she said calmly "I was angry Lexi. I was scared you were going to leave me, go travelling the world in some high powered job, and I didn't really say all that to Robin, I just wanted to put you of the idea."

"Really? So to stop me leaving you decided to leave me instead? To block my job opportunity but take it yourself?

No. I think you never cared about me, you have only ever cared about yourself. But that's in the past, of no interest now, what I am having more trouble figuring out is why you have come back now."

"Maybe what I thought I wanted wasn't enough. We used to have fun Lexi, you cant have forgotten."

"Sure the sex was OK." Alex shrugged, "but its better now. You see I have realised something too, I have realised what we had was nothing more than sex. Now, now I have love."

"Oh don't give me that!" Sylvie snorted, "That blonde airhead wont hold your attention long. You say its love but you didn't tell her about us did you? Does she even know you are here now? What would she say if she could see us here?" Sylvie picked up her phone that had been on the seat beside her. "Maybe I should let her know you are here." She took a snap of Alex sat across from her and typed out a message hitting send before Alex could stop her. "Lets see how perfect she thinks you are when she gets that!" Sylvie smirked standing up she said "You know what, I am suddenly not feeling so hungry. But Lexi, you know where I am when she dumps you. When you want the wild screaming orgasms I used to give you give me a call. I mean blondie is probably a cuddle in front of the TV kind of girl and we both know you will tire of that soon enough."

Alex watched Sylvie walk away. She then noticed the tall woman she had seen at the hotel leave a booth she hadn't even noticed and follow Sylvie out the door. Knowing what Sylvie was capable of Alex reached into her bag that was on the table next to her and called Boo.

O0o

"Piper cheer up." Polly said for what felt like the fiftieth time that evening. "You knew the text was coming, you knew Alex was meeting her. Just forget it."

Piper scowled at Polly. "Would you be able to forget it if you knew Pete had flown half way round the world to meet an ex, then that ex sent you a picture of Pete with the message they were wining and dining him, before showing him what fun he had been missing since he was with you? No of course you wouldn't!" Piper muttered when she saw Polly wince. "So I'm sorry but I cant forget it and I may not be the life and soul of the party tonight. So just prop me up near the bar where I will drink and try to forget OK."

Polly looked round desperately for Boo or Nicky, hoping one of them could convince Piper that she had nothing to fear. But she knew Piper was right, she would feel the same. Seeing Lorna she waved frantically and was relieved when, having hugged the obviously miserable Piper, she turned to Polly and said "why don't you go say hi to Nicky, she is waiting for Boo by the other bar." Turning to Piper Lorna smiled, "Don't look so sad. Alex called Nicky, Piper, she said her plan was going according to schedule. Nicky said she sounded OK."

Piper nodded. "Did she mention me?" She hated herself for asking but she felt as if the Alex everyone was talking about was the woman she had met all those months ago, the hard business woman on a mission. Piper was missing the woman she was now certain she had lost. The woman who had cared for her when she was sick, who had held her and kissed her and made her feel closer to anyone than she had felt before.

"I don't know Piper," Lorna admitted, "it was Nicky who spoke to her not me. But she is doing this for you, you know that right?"

Piper shrugged. Taking another sip of her drink she signalled to the waiters for another before looking at Lorna, "Maybe she is not doing it for me at all, maybe she is doing it for herself. If it was really me she was thinking of she would have mentioned Sylvie before I went to London wouldn't she."

Lorna muttered "Wait there!" and stomped of to find Nicky. Leaving Piper to down her drink in one gulp and ask for more, not caring that she had already consumed far more than she would normally.

"You having girlfriend trouble?" the girl behind the bar smiled, nodding after Lorna as she pushed the drink into Pipers hand.

"What, oh no, she's not my girlfriend. In fact I am not sure I have one of those any more." Piper sighed. Self pity taking hold. "She is in England, with her ex."

"she's is mad then." the pretty girl with bright blue hair smiled. I have been watching you since you arrived and if you were mine I wouldn't leave your side let alone the country."

"Well maybe I am just not as exciting as her ex, or as good in bed, or as good at business. Who knows" Piper sighed "the list is endless."

"Oh for god sake blondie stop the pity party!" came Nicky's loud voice behind Piper, causing the woman behind the bar to raise her eyebrow before pushing another drink on a napkin towards Piper then move a discreet distance away. "Alex will be back Sunday OK." Nicky continued "She is on the overnight flight and if you want to apologise for not hearing her out before maybe you should go meet her." Nicky watched Pipers eyes trying to focus, "you need to go home, sober up and then decide what you want." Nicky turned to look at Polly, "I will send you details of Alex's flight, no point telling her now, Alex wants to see her. Try and get her to go to the airport."

Polly nodded and looked at Piper, "Come on Piper, lets go, I think you have had more than enough." she smiled at Nicky, "I'll take her home, apologise to Boo for us, sure she will understand."

Nicky chuckled, "She wont even notice. She just text to tell me she was not coming! Turns out she pulled at the hotel she is staying at. She was on her way to dinner! Now go take blondie home sober her up and make her realise she needs to sort this shit out with Alex. I hate to admit it and sound as soft as my girlfriend here," she smiled down at Lorna, "but they are good together, good for each other. She had better not screw it up!"

o0o

As she reached the check in gate for her flight Alex looked at her phone once more. She had been expecting a call and had hoped it would arrive before she was in the air. Seeing no missed calls or messages however, she turned off the phone and put it inside her jacket pocket. She was suddenly nervous about going home. The whole time she had been in London she had focus, a reason for being there, a job to do. But what she was going back to was uncertainty and that was the one thing she hated.

Making her way through the airport now Alex found a quiet corner to sit while she waited for her plane to board. Nicky had said she would meet her at the airport, promising to bring the bike and arrange a car to follow so Alex could ride home and her luggage would be taken care of. She needed to feel in control again and her bike always gave her that. She smiled as she remembered Nicky moaning, but knew her friend would be there for her. A few times in their last conversation Nicky had tried to bring up Pipers name, but each time Alex had shut her down. Anything she wanted to say to Piper she would not pass through someone else. Hearing her flight called Alex stood and made her way towards the gate.

"Miss Vause!" A loud voice called her causing her to turn. Her eyes widened in recognition of the man moving quickly towards her.

"I am very relieved to have caught you!" He panted trying to catch his breath. "I know you are about to board but we need to speak."

Alex frowned. "That is my flight boarding now. I cant afford to miss it." she explained.

"Maybe you can," the man smiled. "Maybe you need too." Seeing Alex hesitate he continued. "You know who I am of course?"

Alex nodded. "I have seen you photograph in business magazines. And I have been talking to members of your team all week." Alex didn't mention she had tried to meet with him everyday for the past week or she had been checking her phone every ten minutes since sending him her last email.

The man chuckled humourlessly to himself. "Yes well I wasn't expecting you to have seen pictures adorning my wife's desk, sentimentality never was her thing. OK, I will be honest with you. I read the reports from my team, as well as the report you sent me. I did some checking, the facts appear accurate. But now I have a few questions. I could have put them in writing but I like to make such major decisions in person. So Miss Vause my proposal is this. You come have coffee with me in the executive lounge. I will ensure you are on the next flight, first class, at my expense."

Alex hesitated. "I have someone meeting me." she mumbled feebly.

"Call them, tell them you will arrive 2 hours later. Like I say Miss Vause I am willing to pay for your time and inconvenience, but I think you will benefit if you agree."

Alex nodded. Knowing curiosity at seeing Sylvie's husband before her was always going to win.

"Good, follow me."

Alex did follow the suited man through a side door into the executive lounge. Taking the seat offered, Alex remained quiet, waiting to see what the man before her had to say. She was surprised though when instead of launching into his reason for her being there he held out his hand.

"It is good to finally meet you Miss Vause, I am Robin Bracken. I believe you know my wife."

Alex shook the hand offered. And said simply "I do."

"And from the email you sent me I believe I am correct in assuming my wife has been in your life for many years."

Alex shook her head. "No. She is not in my life. We have not spoken or communicated in any form for years, until recently."

"And the circumstances for this break in communication?"

"She got a job with you and you got married."

"Tell me Miss Vause, I have done a little research myself you see, and I notice when Sylvie applied to work for me you applied also, yet you did not attend the interview. Why was that?"

"Because she told me not too." Alex admitted reluctantly

"And you always do what she tells you?"

Alex winced. "No. I messaged you because I had had enough of living with my poor decisions of the past. If I had stood up to her then things would be different."

"What things?" Robin Bracken looked at Alex curiously.

"Well for one I may have go the job I always dreamed of, but even if I hadn't I would not have always wondered 'what if'. But more than that if I had stood up to her maybe she wouldn't still be hurting everyone around her, manipulating them."

"You mean me?" Robins eyes widened as if shocked someone was being so honest.

"Sure, you are included in that. She married you under false pretences. At least I am assuming she didn't tell you she preferred women before marrying you and having a child with you. Also the fact she is screwing around with another woman now tells me she hasn't changed."

"Yes I am aware of the relationship my wife is currently pursuing with a certain receptionist."

"You know?"

"Oh yes, and she is not the first believe me. You see Miss Vause, Sylvie thinks she is clever, but she underestimates those around her. Yourself for instance; I am sure it would never occur to her you would contact me, because she will be convinced you will have feelings for her. In the same way she never for an instance suspected I myself might have reasons, other than love, for our union.

I needed an heir. While Sylvie married me for my money and, I am sure, the power being married to me brought to her, she did not see I was getting what I wanted too. Our son will remain in my custody and will inherit everything."

"You are getting divorced?" Alex was shocked now.

Robin smiled at her surprise. "It was only a matter of time and she has no idea yet, so I would be grateful if you would keep that piece of information to yourself."

Alex nodded, stunned.

"Now, back to my reason for needing this meeting, you expressed regret at your past decision to not follow up your application to work for me. I am hoping we can rectify that decision. I have deliberately been absent from the meetings you have tried to arrange with me, and those you have had with members of my staff this week. I wanted to see how you handled yourself and seek their opinion. I must say I am impressed. Sylvie had always given the impression she only had dealings with Carrie Black out of loyalty to a friend and that Miss Black had been her only friend in college. Having received Miss Black's letter of resignation, and having spoken to her yesterday in person, I know Sylvie misled me here too. I need to state outright that had you applied for the position all those years ago your sexuality would have had no bearing on my decision to employ you. I believe this is the threat she used to keep you from applying?" Robin waited for Alex's confirmation nod before continuing. "I have also spoken to your now ex bosses. They are most upset Alex." Robin smiled. "They do not want to loose you. So, we have a proposal."

Alex said nothing waiting almost scared to hope what Robin might say next.

"I want you to go back Alex, go back to The States. I believe you have been instrumental in the introduction of this PoPi range?" Alex nodded, "Well I want more. More from them and more businesses like them. Not just for the hotels but for Barney's too. You see while it had been announced that they were merging the national and international sales, it hasn't been announced I am now a major share holder. I want my people in there. And that is you. You and Carrie Black."

"And Sylvie?" Alex finally spoke.

"If she is lucky I will not prosecute her for the fraud my team are still unravelling. I will make sure she doesn't starve, but even that will have conditions; and one of those conditions is that she has no contact with you or anyone you specify. Sylvie's day in the sun is over Miss Vause, you no longer have to live in her shadow. Come work for me."

Alex let Robin Bracken's words sink in. It would end the question she had always had in the back of her mind, it would mean she had finally stopped Sylvie manipulation and it would mean she could protect her friends and piper from this ever happening again. Alex smiled.

"Yes." She held out her hand. "I would love to work for you!"

"Excellent." Robin stood up. "OK, now I will go organise us some champagne, check your flight arrangements and give you a few minutes to digest this development and maybe call your friends and family." He walked away leaving a slightly stunned Alex to contemplate his wards. Reaching for her phone she called Nicky.

"Nick? Hey its me. Look I am on the later flight." She started wincing at the stream on curse words unleashed on the other end of the phone. Once the tirade had stopped she continued, "it is not a wasted journey Nick, you have hours yet it is not like you have left! My bags will still need collecting from the earlier flight so the booked car is not wasted, you can go then too, leave the bike then go back with the car. I can see you tomorrow." Alex was a little sad she would not see her friend but knew asking Nicky to change her weekend plans was too much. "Yeah everything is fine, better than fine." Alex smiled at her friends new stream of questions answering only one. "No Nicky we wont have any trouble from her again. It is sorted. Now I have to go. I will see you tomorrow."

As Alex accepted the glass of champagne from a smiling Robin Bracken she knew her next plan of action was how to rectify the relationship between her and Piper. There was no way she was going to let Sylvie ruin that now everything else was looking up.

o0o

A/N: So back to Monday update, I hope it doesn't disappoint! Not even going to bother offering my excuses this week as it involves a 300 mile mercy mission and a spider and sounds far fetched even to my ears! Sorry I did not reply to the lovely reviews and messages people sent me after the last chapter I will try harder this time I promise ;-) A x