Author's Note: Finally, I can post this week's update. With the various issues on FF the last few years, I am looking into cross-posting on A03. If I do that I will let you know. In the meantime, happy reading! Have a great weekend!
Sonny barged into Jason's office at the coffee warehouse.
"I need your help," Sonny said.
"With what?" Jason asked.
"I was hoping you could talk to Kellie for me," Sonny said.
"Sonny, how many times have I told you, I'm not getting in the middle of your relationship with Kellie," Jason said.
"I can't really have a relationship when she won't answer my calls," Sonny said.
"Let Kellie come to you when she's ready," Jason said, "She definitely needs time after whatever happened between you two at the MetroCourt the other day."
"I just need you to get me opportunity to talk to her," Sonny said, "I'd like to try to patch things up with her."
"Patch things up with her how?" Jason asked.
"Just try to have a conversation with her," Sonny said, "See if I can smooth over the whole thing at the MetroCourt."
"Sonny, if Kellie doesn't want to talk to you, I'm not going to make her," Jason said, "Pushing her will have the exact opposite reaction you're hoping for. Did you learn nothing from the MetroCourt?"
"Alexis told me to change my approach to Kellie," Sonny said, "And that's what I'm trying to do. But in order to do that I need to be able to tell her that."
"No, you don't, Sonny," Jason said, "Kellie probably won't believe you anyway. Not after all the times, she's felt let down by you before. I think it's more of you have to show her and it will probably take longer than you would like."
"It's hard when I feel like I'm being unfairly punished for what happened after Nixon Falls and with Charles last year," Sonny said, "I lost my memory and Victor shot and kidnapped Charles."
"Sonny," Jason replied, "You don't get tell Kellie how to feel about any of that or for how long. I can't be the middle man between the two of you."
"Can't or won't" Sonny replied, "Does shoving me out of the business also involve keeping me out of my daughter's life?"
"If Kellie wanted to speak to you," Jason said, "I wouldn't stop her."
"Yeah, sure," Sonny said, "I don't know why I bothered to think you would help. Not when you betrayed me by taking over the business. I thought you were supposed to be my brother, my friend."
"Do you think I wanted to do that to you?" Jason replied, "But you weren't handling things. You refused to see it. I did what I had to do to keep all of us safe, including you, and keep Kellie from taking over."
"You don't even seem to have any remorse or regret for stabbing me in the back," Sonny said.
"The only regret I have," Jason said, exasperated, "Is that I didn't make the move sooner before before Charles was shot and Kellie felt like she had to step in the way she did."
Meanwhile, Max was in the main warehouse when Charles walked in.
"Uncle Charles," Max greeted him, "I certainly didn't expect to see you here of all places."
"I wanted to speak to Jason if he has a moment," Charles said.
"You'll have to wait," Max said, "He's…."
Max was interrupted by Sonny's yelling, "You're dead to me."
Max rolled his eyes.
"Ahh," Charles said, understanding, "Dare I ask how many times Sonny has yelled that particular phrase since Jason ousted him?"
"I've lost count," Max answered as the door to the office opened and Sonny stormed out and slammed it behind him.
Sonny stopped, startled by Charles presence.
"Charles," Sonny acknowledged, attempting to compose himself.
"Sonny," Charles replied.
"Sorry, it's actually strange to see you again," Sonny said, "Considering we all thought….well"
"I was dead," Charles said, "Well, you're not first. I suspect it will be awhile before it's normal again."
"Right," Sonny said, "You look well. Have you been able to spend time with our grandkids?"
"Yes," Charles said and nothing more.
"That's good," Sonny said, "I should be going."
Charles nodded and Sonny left.
Then Max led Charles into Jason's office.
"Jason, Charles is here to see you," Max said.
"Hi," Jason said, gesturing to the chair as Max left, "Have a seat. Can I get you anything to drink? Water? Coffee?"
"No, I don't need anything," Charles said, sitting in the chair. Jason sat in his desk chair.
"Is there something I can do for you?" Jason asked, "Kellie mentioned you had some things you wanted to talk to me about. I was surprised you didn't pull me aside at the house the other day."
"To be honest, I thought about it," Charles said, "But then I really just wanted to focus on being with the kids."
"That's understandable," Jason said.
"And I didn't really want to have this conversation with Kellie around," Charles said, "Look, I make a point not to really ask questions or get involved with the business other than trying to support Kellie when she's trying to sort through things or if there's a need I can help with to keep her and the kids safe."
Charles paused for a moment to consider his next words.
"Since you took over from Sonny has the question of who's in charge been resolved?" Charles asked, "Or people still gunning for you and anyone they could perceive as a threat to them taking over?"
"The question's been resolved," Jason said, "Whoever was coming after us seems to have gone underground if anyone besides Cyrus Renault was involved."
"That's good," Charles said, "And if something were to happen to you, can you guarantee that Kellie wouldn't be in a position to have to run the business?"