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The Quintessential Q
Chapter Seventy Nine
Call in a Pro.
With a throaty purr Maddy replies to the rude inquiry. "Where do you want me to be?" Tucking the cell phone between her shoulder and her ear she slides a piece forward against Stefan moving on the attack. Knowing she has anywhere from five to ten minutes now while Stefan considers his options she rises from her chair and walks away from the table. "No. No, I'm working. I don't know. I'll be there when I get there." Maddy glances down at her watch. "I still have some things I have to do before I go back to the crib. The crib... the house." Maddy rolls her eyes translating could be such a pain in the.... "Talk to you later."
She snaps the phone shut. Maddy wanders over to the sidebar of the coffee and selections Mrs Lansbury had prepared-- only fair since the last thing she'd eatten had been the slop at school. Filling a small plate and pouring a cup, she rejoins Stefan at the table just as he is making his countermove. She nods frowning a little and then captures one of Stefan's rooks. He'll make her pay but it's worth it to put him on notice that she'd come to play.
"Is everything alright?" Stefan asks absently.
"Yes. Some people just don't have any patience. They want what they want and screw the consequences for the other person."
"I believe the phrase is Pot and Kettle, Madeleine. And you did get a place to live out of the deal." Stefan looks at Maddy over the half frames of his glasses.
"I had a place to live. And just because you think I have no patience doesn't mean I can't recognize the flaw in others."
"Touche." Stefan moves. His attack seems to be centered around Maddy's queen and putting her on the run. "So why do you call my nephew Candy?"
Maddy pauses in moving her queen to safer ground. She has to be ride the line between keeping the most mobile piece on the board, on the board and maintaining her attack. She half grins at Stefan. Two can play the distraction game. "Could be because he is so darn purty." Maddy makes her play. "Or it could be because I want to nibble on him like an all day sucker." Stefan starts, losing focus on the game to stare at Maddy. She runs the very tip of her tongue over the edge of her teeth. Maddy slides back in her chair and crosses her legs. "It's your move." Maddy says innocently her eyes wide.
"You... you are a..." Stefan struggles for the exact phrase.
"Bitch? It's what your nephew calls me." Maddy leans in resting her arms on the table by the board. "But he keeps calling, doesn't he? Has the file come in on me yet?"
"File?" Stefan looks down at the board.
"Oh please. Playing stupid is not something you can carry off. You really have to be blonde and bland for that one to work. You want to know who I am, what I'm doing living with Nikolas and who I'm working for. If I were in your spot I'd do the same thing. Rest easy, MrC. Niknik's blind spot is the blonde and the bland. Well them and Emily. I'm more like a 2x4. That's a board this fat by this wide." Maddy shows the deminsions between thumb and forefinger. "Nik isn't blind around me. I won't let him be even if it takes a two by four to make it so."
"I do not find that comforting." Stefan rushes his move. Silently cursing after he does so. He'd err'd. Looking at Maddy he can see she realizes it too. With the lightening speed he's growing accostom to she sweeps his queen off the board with her own.
"Think of me as another lesson The Heir has to learn before he takes over. Like learning the terms of a deal before signing it. Do you know he still owes me two favors, favors to be named later? Would you have agreed to that? Would you want the Head of the Cassadine to make a deal like that?" Maddy shakes her head. She might collect favors but she can never believe that people hand them out like candy.
"Do you know my mother?" Stefan doesn't even pretend to be playing chess anymore.
"I know of your mother. Enough to know I don't like her staff retirement plan. I like my skin the way it is. Thank you very much." Maddy taps on the board reminding Stefan of the pretext why she is here.
Stefan impatiently makes a nothing move. It does nothing to further the game just a time waster. "If not Helena then Luke. Do you know Luke Spencer."
"Sure. I met him a couple of nights ago. We went dancing. That man can move. He left me an open invitation to go to his club. I bet as long as I keep annoying you and Nik he'll keep the invitations coming. You two really don't get along, do you?" Maddy understates. She resumes her attack on Stefan's side of the board. "Are those the only two enemies you have? Don't you have an uncle down in a South American prison too? He can't be too happy with you after all this time."
"You've done some investigating of your own."
"The curse of being a voracious reader. Your family is scarcely low profile."
"Victor was incarcerated before you were born."
"Do you really think I'd move in with someone without doing a background check first? I'm a single woman, Mr C. And these are troubled times."
"And growing more so all the time." Stefan wonders if he is going to have to do something about this girl.
"Don't worry, Mr C, the only threat I am to Niknik is to his peace of mind but feel free to warn him about me all you like. Because you know what? He's about to do it again. Come to me and want a favor, another favor, a favor to be repaid later. He wants Emily Quartermaine and he'll want my help in getting her. And he's willing to get deeper in my debt to get her."
"Will you?"
Maddy shrugs. "I already gave him all the help he needs. It's up to him now. Are you going to move? Or are you going to concede the match?" Stefan and Maddy are starring at each other in a battle of wills when Alexis walks in.
"Stefan, Mrs Lansbury told me you were in here. I have something important to tell you...." Alexis' voice fades as she takes in the sight of her brother in a staring contest with a young woman over the chess board. She clears her throat. "I'm interrupting you. I should have called first." Alexis apologizes.
Maddy maintains her stare at Stefan. "Your family is the conclusionest jumping bunch I have ever seen. Nobody bothers to find out what is only believes what they think they see. You need to work on that." Maddy rises to her feet.
"The game." Stefan says softly.
"You got your moneys worth. I feel my blood sugar dropping. When you want to finish this-- plan on feeding me." Maddy shrugs on her lined leather coat and leaves the room brushing by Alexis as she does so.
"Stefan, who was that girl? You didn't.... You wouldn't..."
Stefan winces. "I hate when that girl is right. Alexis, look." Stefan points at the chess board and the game in progress. "I have found a new chess partner finally in this damn town, and you just ran her off."
Alexis comes over and looks at the board. Backgammon is more her game but doesn't mean she doesn't play chess only that she doesn't like it. "I think she was winning."
"Enough. Why have you come by?" Stefan rises and goes over to the fire.
Alexis holds out her left hand. "I am married. Congratulate me."
"To whom?"
"Oh for goodness sake. The man I've been living with for the last two years. Ned, Ned Ashton." Alexis says exasperatedly.
"Where is he? Doesn't he have the civility to show his face?"
"He's telling his family now. Stefan, he makes me happy."
"You could do better." Stefan walks over and gives Alexis a hug before adding grudgingly. "But if he makes you happy..."
Alexis kisses Stefan on one cheek and then the other. "And don't bother causing trouble over in Jakarta this time. Ned isn't working much for ELQ anymore, since AJ took over."
"Ned Ashton," Nikolas' Emily's cousin and mentor "...and my sister." Stefan muses. "We'll throw the reception here invite all your new inlaws. No need to scare him off we'll only invite a selected number of our side of the family."
AJ and Carly pull up the mansion with Michael and Lucas in tow. It's passed Michael's bedtime but since Em is his primary babysitter and she's out of commission there's nobody to cover. AJ knows Edward and Lila won't mind seeing Michael. It's probably the reason the command performance was called. At least so AJ thinks until he sees Jason's limo pull up. AJ whistles. "This must be the big one. You know what's going on? Grandfather called me."
"Ned called me." Jason says tersely. As is sort of the informal agreement when the two men are together rather than one or the other carrying Michael, Carly holds Michael's hand. Lucas hauls Michael's stuff.
"Look here's the cover story. If I give you the signal you suddenly remember you left the bathtub running." Carly directs Lucas in low tones.
"You want me to lie."
"It's a little fib. Not a biggy."
"You want me to lie."
"Look, do what I want, you little punk, or a) I tell mama about you teaching Michael all those new words and b) you'll die of old age before Thunder ever moves up on the hill. Michael's horse will be there first."
"Carly!" AJ shakes his head. "Baby, go with the bribe before the blackmail. Lucas, get us out of there the way your sister says and there is a new gameboy cartridge in it for you."
"Deal." Lucas says smugly grinning at Carly. He runs ahead of Carly and AJ to catch up with Jason at the mansion doors.
"I want Jerry home. I want Jerry home NOW." Carly complains. "Lucas is totally out of control. Where are Jerry and Mama?"
"I was sworn to secrecy."
"Oh like I'm going to tell John and Jane Jacks."
"It's their honeymoon."
"Those two are perpetually on a honeymoon; they can honeymoon anywhere. They can honeymoon right here in PC. I want to know where they are!" Carly continues to complain all the way to the mansion door but then falls silent. Her business was her business and not the Q's. When Carly and AJ walk into the living room most of the family is already gathered: Edward and Lila, Alan and Monica. Jason is there. Ned is there. Oh Gees great-- Jax is here with his parents. "Nevermind." Carly mutters to AJ. "Jerry can just stay where he is at until I get this town fumigated."
"AJ, Carly! And Michael my little love." Lila coos. Michael gives his favorite great granny a cuddle and a kiss. He likes the way she smells. Like flowers and chocolate. AJ and Carly both give Lila a kiss on the cheek. Carly looks around.
"Where's Emily?"
Edward growls staring at Monica. "Em went back to school today. And then into Deception. We called there but missed her." Edward is still ticked that this all happened while he was at the office and before he got to impliment his home schooling plan.
"She what?" Carly's brows go up. "Sounds like she is hobbling back to the deep end. Excuse me, I have a phone call to make." Carly goes out to the foyer and calls Johnny's place leaving a message at his apartment that Emily needed to be back at the mansion for a family war council. She's about to make a call to Lucky and Elizabeth when she hears the voice behind her and hangs up the phone.
"You know where Emily is." Monica had followed Carly out to the foyer while AJ had been distracted by somebody. She grabs Carly by the arm and turns Carly around to face her.
"I've got a couple of ideas. Don't you? Oh that's right you don't care where Em is as long as she is in by midnight every night? Wait-- That's wrong too. You don't even care that much; Edward is the one who put her on the curfew... or at least is the only one who enforces it." Carly gets right in Monica's face. This one had been a long time in coming. Since before Michael was born.
"Listen, you gold digging tramp! I've had it up to hear with you and your snide remarks. I've bitten my tongue out of respect for Bobbie..."
"Yeah, since when?" Carly snorts.
"But I am so sick of the way you have insinuated yourself into Jason and AJ's lives. You've done nothing but damage to their relationships to this family and to each other. I won't have you do the same to my daughter."
"Virginia in Heaven! And they say I am delusional. You are the one who drove Jason and AJ out of here. Out of here, your house, you know the one Alan bought you. So lets not start comparing gold digging, shall we?"
"You bitch!" Monica roundhouse slaps Carly across the face jerking her head around.
Carly straightens and works her jaw to make sure everything is still intact. "Big mistake, Mama Q." With a closed fist Carly comes back with an uppercut that drops Monica to the floor. The sound of Monica hitting the parquet brings guys running from the other room. Jason who has suspected trouble when he realized Carly and Monica were missing at the same time keeps Lucas and Michael with him and out of view of the foyer. "She started it." Carly covers. When she sees the disbelieving faces. "She did! Look!" Carly points out the red mark on her face. "I just finished it."
"Come on, Carly. We're leaving." AJ holds out a hand. "We'll go through the french doors so Michael won't see this."
"No." Edward demands. "Alan, take your wife upstairs and put her to bed. Reginald!"
"You bellowed, Mr Q." Reggie comes out from hiding in the kitchen where he'd heard everything.
"Help Alan take Monica upstairs. There was a family announcement to be made and DAMN IT!!! IT will be made." Edward grabs Carly by the arm and drags her back into the front room. He plops her in a seat on the couch. AJ sits down next to her. Jane, sitting next to Lila, has no idea what to say. What can be said when a daughter in law decks her mother in law?
Lila reaches over and pats Jane's hand comfortingly. "Girls will be girls?!"
John and Jax are off to the side. John mutters to Jax. "Girl's got a point. Monica did start it. The bruise speaks for itself. Didn't know Monica had it in her. But Carly's no surprise."
"Taking Carly's side is not going to get her to tell you where Jerry is." Edward gives Jax a signal and Jax starts pouring flutes of champagne handing them out to everyone since Reggie is busy. He hands Carly a flute of champagne she takes a wiff of the bubbles and alcohol and starts getting a little green around the gills. She sets the champagne down.
AJ brushes her hair back behind her ear concerned. "Are you okay?"
"Maybe a glass of water." Carly whispers.
"Right." AJ rises and pours tumblers of water for both him and Carly. Taking one of the linen napkins he also wraps a few icecubes in it and brings it back to Carly for her knuckles.
Edward stands behind Lila's chair with his hands on both of her shoulders. "Ned, you have the floor."
"I've called you all together to let you know there is a new addition to the family. Alexis Davis now Ashton has made an honest man of me." There is a round of congratulations and applause.
"Where is she?" Edward grumbles. "When you two were shacking up you were living in each others pockets, now married for a couple of days and she is nowhere to be found."
"Alexis and I decided to face our own families first. She is off at Wyndemere."
"Sounds as if you got the better of that deal, mate." Jax slaps Ned on the back. "Congratulations. You're a lucky man. Not too smart or you would have closed the deal a year ago but lucky."
"I thought you were taking me to your place?" Emily wonders as Johnny pulls out of Deception but away from the waterfront too.
"It's my night off. If we go to the restaurant..."
"They'll put you to work." Em nods. "I know how that one goes. So where to?"
"How does Eli's sound?" Johnny suggests.
"Messy. Delicious. Fun." Emily practically croons. She can practically feel her mouth starting to water.
"Eli's it is." Johnny skillfully drives to Eli's keeping his eyes on the road even though he can feel Em's eyes on him as she curls sideways in her seatbelt so she can look at him. "How was your first day back?"
"Hell." Em laughs and sighs at the same time. "I'm taking Grandfather up on the tutors starting tomorrow and Maddy's breaking out with me."
"Whoa? Maddy too? I know she's your friend and business partner but..."
"She and Grandfather hit it off. Got to remember, Johnny, when I'm not around; she is his confection connection now. He made the offer to both of us." Once they arrive at the restaurant Johnny assist Em from the van and holds the door for her to enter the restaurant. They seat themselves in one of the highbacked benches. The table is covered with a red vinyl tablecloth, ease of cleaning taking precedence over ambiance. "Lucky adores this place. He likes your place too." Emily reassures.
"But I don't deliver."
"Right." The waitress comes up and takes their order. And it seems just as quickly returns with it. Emily inhales the aroma her stomach growling in response. "Sorry. It's been that kind of day."
"Dig in." Johnny rolls up his sleeves and takes his own advice. Conversation is put on hold while the ribs get their undivided attention. Soon Em is leaning back full.
"Oh my that was good. Messy but good." Emily looks at her hands. "I think you are going to have to roll me out of here."
"Roll both of us out of here." Johnny confirms. The waitress comes around with hot towels for them to wipe their hands and face. Eli's might look like a dive but when it came to ribs they take it seriously. Johnny glances down at his pager and sees that he has a message. "I'm going to go call and check in." While Johnny is gone Emily leans her head back against the booth and closes her eyes. It had been a long, stressful day. "Em?" Johnny says softly sliding in next to her.
"hmm?" Em mumbles cuddling into Johnny not opening her eyes.
"There was a message on my machine from Ms Benson for you. Something about her being at the mansion and a war counsel being called?"
Emily's eyes pop open. "Carly's at the house? Carly is at MY house. OH this isn't good. I have to get home."
"Are you sure?"
"Carly and my mom in one room? I think I'm going to need you in a professional capacity." Johnny slides out of the booth and holds out his hand to Emily to assist her, handing her crutches once she is on her feet make that foot. Johnny throws down some bills on the table and easily catches up with Emily who is doing her best to hurry from the restaurant.