The next morning she was up early. She couldn't sleep, felt the onset of nausea and all she wanted to do was crawl back into bed and into Ned's arms. If only he were there. She sat at her desk and opened her laptop to review the documents he had sent the night prior. She was startled by the knock at the door and got up to open it. "Sonny. It's pretty early. What are you doing here?" She said opening it wider and then tying her robe.

"I'm sorry to bother you at this hour."

"It's ok, what do you need?" She said, taking in his state. It was clear that he had been up all night.

"I need you to file a restraining order against AJ." He said.

"What happened?" She asked matter of fact not really wanting to get into the details and fighting another wave of nausea as she leaned against the chair.

"You ok?" He asked, suddenly concerned.

"I'm fine. It's the flu or something. Now why don't you tell me what happened with AJ and I'm presuming this concerns Michael." She replied, brushing him off.

"You're sure?"

"I'm sure, now what happened?"

"Carly came to me last night, he cornered Michael in the park yesterday."

"Did he threaten to take Michael at all? Did he threaten Carly? Leticia?"

"No, but you know AJ, this is just the beginning of him trying to have access to–"

"His son." She interrupted and finished his thought as she walked across the room and leaned against the table behind the coach. "He wants access to his son. And now that you are divorcing Carly, that may be possible."

"Alexis, why are you acting this way?"

"What way?" She said evading.

"Defending AJ. What is this? Are you my attorney or not?"

"I'm not defending AJ. I just think without a threat, you're going to be hard pressed to find a judge that will approve an order."

"Is this about what happened between us? Because there has been something between us ever since that night I kissed you. I feel it and I think you do, too."

"That night was a mistake. I love Ned."

"I know you do. But where is he?" He stepped closer to her.

"Where my husband is, is none of your concern. What you need to know is that we are committed to each other and our marriage. Actually I think it would be easier for everyone and your claim to Michael if you just decided to stay married to Carly."

"That's not an option. I've had enough chaos in my life and when Carly and I are apart, my life seems under control and I know you understand that."

"I do understand that Sonny, you know I thrive on control, but for me, my life only seems to make sense when I'm with the person that I love."

"So we understand each other, then?"

"We do and we're friends, but if you care about me at all then you'll please stop trying to turn this into something it's not."

"I do care about you, Alexis." She made eye contact with him as he stepped even closer towards her. She breathed in and then out before walking back towards the door to let him out.

"Ok then, well I'll get on that restraining order and I'll keep you posted."

"I appreciate it." He said, touching her arm as he quietly left the apartment. She sat back down in the chair by her desk after closing the door and tried to focus again. Resisting Sonny was harder when Ned was gone for long periods of time, she had done it, but being that close to him, his disregard for personal space still did something to her. They needed to move out of that Penthouse.

London

He sat at the bar of the hotel looking over the deal notes Alexis had sent him. This was it, this was the final offer and then he and ELQ would walk. Grandfather wouldn't be happy, but he'd put together a strategy to recover the losses. Jillian approached and sat down next to him. "Our meeting isn't for another hour."

"That's not what I'm here for." She whispered as she inched closer to him.

"I don't know what you think is going to happen here, but–" She stopped him by initiating a kiss.

He pulled away. "I've told you, I'm married. Now, I think it would be best if you leave and I'll see you at the office."

"Well you're no fun today." She said she tried to kiss him again, but he pulled away. It was obvious she wasn't going to leave, so he got up, paid his tab and walked away.

"We close this deal in an hour, Jillian. One hour." He was adamant as he walked away.

She watched him and took out her cell phone as it rang. "Hello. Yes, he will. Consider it signed, sealed and delivered." She was smug. "I've got a few other objectives first, but no need to worry. He's back on track. Your son will be back at ELQ before you can even make it home to Port Charles."

That afternoon he was able to close the deal and he couldn't deny that despite the length of the negotiations, it felt good to be back at ELQ and he was more certain that going back in some capacity was the right move for his family. This trip notwithstanding he would be home more. He unlocked the door to his hotel suite to find Jillian on his bed, in a black silk negligee. "How the hell did you get in here?"

"A pass key. Easy enough to get a hold of." She said simply as she slid off the bed and passed him a glass of champagne. "To the deal of the century." She said clinking her glass with his and taking a sip. "Aren't you going to celebrate?" She encouraged him to drink as she walked closer..

He lifted the glass to his lips and swallowed. "There. Satisfied?" She continued to walk closer until she had backed him up against the wall and started to undo his tie.

"I think you know what will satisfy me." She said as her lips met his and she began to unbutton his shirt.

He grabbed her hands to stop her, "I've told you repeatedly, I'm married and I love my wife."

"Don't worry, Neddie, my lips are sealed." She said as she captured his lips with hers again and he reciprocated before coming to his senses.

"No, no I am not going to do this to her." He replied letting her go and trying to build in some space between them.

"How would she ever know? I'm not going to say anything and I wouldn't think you would." She said, pushing him onto the bed.

"That's right because nothing more is going to happen."

"I know you want to, Ned. It was only a matter of time." She said, pushing him back down and straddling herself on top of him.

"How do you know what I want?" He said rolling her off of him and standing back up.

"I can tell by the look in your eyes that you and your little wifey are having some sort of problem. I am only here to help."

"First of all if my wife and I were having any sort of problem it would be none of your business."

"Seems like you need to relax. Obviously she isn't giving you what you need. I can."

"No. You can't."

"Let me try." She said, capturing his lips again. This time however the temptation was too great and he responded as she finished unbuttoning his shirt and rubbed her hands across his chest before moving to unbuckle his pants as they moved to the bed and their kiss intensified. Suddenly, without warning he passed out and she rolled off of him. She finished undressing him and pulled down the bedspread before walking across the room and setting up a camera and then climbing back into bed with him. "Gotcha." She said as it flashed, capturing them together.

A few hours later he awoke, groggy, head pounding to find her next to him. "What?! What are you doing here?" He was in shock. The last thing he ever expected was to end up in bed with her.

"You mean you don't remember?" She said seductively. "I guess we'll have to try again." She said as she tried to pull him into another kiss. He pulled away the instant she touched him.

He got out of bed and got dressed, surveying the scene. The empty bottle and two glasses telling a different tale than his memory. He swore he had only had one glass. "What did you do?"

"Nothing we both didn't want." She said as she continued to pursue him, but he backed away.

"No, this is not what I wanted. Get out, now. Get out!" He demanded and she did, knowing that this was only the beginning. He was going to be with her again, one way or another even if she had to use blackmail to get what she wanted.