CHAPTER TEN

HELENA’S YACHT:

Andreas:(as Helena enters)So, did you find out what’s wrong with your son, Madame.

Helena: Yes, Dr. Jones was most cooperative once I turned the screws a bit. It seems my son is in need of a kidney transplant.

Andreas: You don’t seem happy about the news. I thought you would be considering your relationship with your son.

Helena: You have no understanding of my relationship with my son, Andreas. I’m not sure if Stefan and I understand it entirely ourselves. Whatever the case, I’m going to have to find someone to donate their kidney to Stefan so he can continue to live and wage his battles with me.

Andreas: But how can you do that, Madame. Won’t you need to have a copy of Mr. Cassadine’s medical file to do that.

Helena: Not necessarily. Stavros was Stefan’s brother. I’m sure any offspring of Stavros will be compatible as a kidney donor for Stefan.

Andreas: I thought Prince Nikolas would be too valuable to you and the House of Cassadine to risk having him give Mr. Cassadine one of his kidney’s.

Helena: Andreas, he is. But you see, Nikolas is not the only child Stavros had. Another of his offspring lives in this town and she will be the donor.

Andreas: She?

Helena: Yes, Andreas, Stavros’ daughter.

SONNY’S OFFICE, THE COFFEE WAREHOUSE:

Carly(and Sonny enter Sonny’s office)So, what is my first lesson on being a coffee importer.

Sonny(takes a book off his desk and tosses it to her)Read this.

Carly(makes a face as she thumbs through the book)Why?

Sonny: It will acquaint you with coffee. I had to read it when I first started so I would know what I was doing. You have to crawl before you can walk.(he heads out of the office)

Carly: And where are you going?

Sonny: To check on a shipment of coffee coming in. When I come back I’ll give you a tour of the warehouse and explain what everything is and exactly what it does.

Carly(thumbing through the book)I can hardly wait. (she reads the book for a few moments before tossing it back on the desk)I don’t need to read this. I’ll learn while I earn.(she suddenly has the feeling someone is standing behind her and she turns around with a smile thinking it’s Sonny)Back so soon.

AJ(standing in the doorway)Hello, Carly.

Carly(hasn’t seen AJ since she lost her baby and she sees red seeing him now)What the hell are you doing here?

AJ:(takes out his flask and takes a drink)I’ve come to make you an offer you can’t refuse, if you’re smart. (he suddenly giggles drunkenly)Is that what Sonny did when you crawled in bed with him last November.

Carly: Get out!

AJ: (shakes his finger at her)No, not until you hear my offer. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking since you provoked that fight with me on the stairs.

Carly: You mean when you provoked the fight with me and killed my baby, you drunken loser.

AJ: If my offer is going to work, you’re going to have to start treating me a lot nicer.

Carly: Just say what you have to say then get out before Sonny gets back.

AJ: Okay, we’ll play it your way. You see, I’ve been thinking and what I’ve been thinking is everything has happened for the best.

Carly(can barely believe what she’s hearing)Excuse me?

AJ: Yeah, see the only reason you and Sonny were together was because of the baby. The only reason you and I broke up was because of the baby. Now that it’s gone we can get back what we had together.

Carly: You’re having alcoholic delusions. You and I never had anything.

AJ(just ignores her and continues on)See, now that the baby is gone, Sonny has no reason to threaten me with sending me to prison for burning down his coffee warehouse. He has no reason to want you anymore. But I still do want you, Carly. I know I shouldn’t because of everything you’ve done to me, but I do.

Carly(snarls, starting to lose control)Everything I did to you!

AJ: Carly, we were good together. You were my lucky charm. We had it all and we could have it again if you come back to me where you belong.(without her even being aware she was doing it, Carly’s hand curled around the handle of the letter opener laying on top of the desk)But I have to warn you, I won’t put up with the way you treated me before. You’re going to have to treat me right. No more separate bedrooms and refusing to sleep with me. No more disrespecting me in front of my family or cheating on me with another man. So, what do you say, Carly, do we have a deal?

Sonny(comes in and sees the way Carly’s hand is curled around the handle of his letter opener) What’s going on here?

AJ:(completely unaware of the danger he’s in)Perfect timing as usual, Sonny. I was just telling Carly since the little mistake you and she made is gone there’s no reason why things can’t go back to the way they were before it happened.

Carly(through gritted teeth)Get him out of here!

Sonny(bellows)Chuck! (one of his workmen comes running)Throw this piece of garbage out before I think better of it and take care of him, myself.

Chuck: Yes, Mr. Corinthos.

AJ(struggling with the burly Chuck)Carly, does that mean the answer is no.

Sonny: I’m warning you, Quartermaine. If you ever come back here, again, you’re going to be leaving in a body bag.

AJ(as he’s dragged away)Ooh, I’m shaking.

Sonny(closes the door behind him and turns to Carly)Are you all right?

Carly: If you hadn’t come in when you did, I would have killed him. I was just about to plunge this letter opener in his chest. (she drops it on the desk. Sonny pulls her in his arms and she hugs him tightly).