Wyndemere
Alexis sits at the desk in her suite, rereading the letter she has just composed. Her eyes moisten slightly as she skims over the heart-felt words:
Dear Emma,
I am so sorry this letter has taken such a long to come, I just keep
getting buried under contracts and legal briefs. I know, I know, I need
to rearrange my priorities, right?
How are you finding your studies? Mrs. Reynolds tells me you are
doing exceptionally well, and that your Russian is even begining to
improve - I'm so proud of you. I think of you every day, wishing we
didn't have to be so far apart. Soon though, that will change....I have
decided to tell Stefan about you. I have waited this long so that I
could be absolutely sure of his loyalty and support - and now I believe
I have it. I will let you know when whatever arrangements are to be
made have been taken care of. In the meantime, keep your chin up, know
how much I miss you, and keep up the good work.
I love you, and I know that we will be together again very soon...
~Mom
Alexis folds the letter carefully and slips it into an addressed envelope which she then places in her briefcase. She gathers her things and heads downstairs. In the conservatory she is surprised to find Stefan sitting in a chair watching her come down the stairs.
Alexis: Stefan. I thought you would have left for the hospital already.
Stefan: (visibly tense) No, I have been waiting for you. We have something to discuss.
Alexis: Oh?
Stefan: Yes. (Standing) You see Alexis, I became aware of a certain....development two weeks ago. I resisted taking any immediate action because I was not myself persuaded of the atrosity of the deception - it was only last night that I acquired the final documents which proved the facts of the situation to be indisputable.
Alexis: (becoming aprehensive) I don't understand. What situation?
Stefan: (growing more hostile) My betrayal by my most trusted ally; the person I took to be my closest confidante. (looking almost hurt) I didn't think you had it in you Alexis - but then, what am I thinking, you are a Cassadine, surely I should not be surprised to find you capable of such deceit and venom!
Alexis, knowing she is caught, wavers on the brink of grovelling, but instead changes strategies and goes on the offensive.
Alexis: And just what, praytell, would you have had me do? Allow the woman to destroy you like all the other men she has used? Did you even read the file I gave you on her? You can't think that a person with a history like hers would be capable of a complete character reversal this late in life!
Stefan: How dare you presume to meddle in my personal life!
Alexis: Glass houses Stefan! I beleive the precedent was set by you - deliberately using business to destroy my relationship with someone you disapproved of.
Stefan: My acquisition of ELQ~Jakarta is not even comprable to the lengths to which you have gone to convince me of a vile and reprehensible untruth!
Alexis: Oh, I beg to differ Stefan. I, at least had your best interests at heart - Katherine is a treacherous and manipulative woman, and you were too blinded by lust to see the truth. What I did was protect my family from a dangerous outside influence.
Stefan: What you did was cause irreprable harm! You have not only destroyed any possibility of a relationship with Katherine, but you have also severed any bond that you and I once had. What you did was unforgiveable, Alexis. I want you out of my house today, and out of my sight permanently.
Alexis: Stefan, I-
Stefan: Enough! (glaring meaningfully) I grow weary of your lies, Alexis. You will leave now. We have nothing further to discuss....(looks at her with almost undiscernable sadness)....you are dead to me, and this family, as of today.
Alexis pales at his harshness and obvious contept for her. She swallows the lump that is growing in her throat and leaves the room while she still has some pride. As she walks down to the launch, she wonders what on earth she will do now.
Alexis sits alone at the bar, brooding over her White Russian. How could she have been so careless with those documents Leo had given her? If only she had burned them that night, before going to see Ned. Why couldn't Stefan understand why she had done it? She had allowed him to destroy her relationship with Ned....why wasn't he seeing the double-standard? Sure, she had deceived him deliberately, but someday he would realize what a menace Katherine was, and would be grateful to her for what she had done.
She contemplates the letter in her briefcase, unbelievably thankful that she had not yet mailed it. Perhaps this was all for the best - if Stefan truly meant to exile her from the family (of which she had little doubt), then she could bring Emma out of hiding and go back to practicing law in a sleepy little town somewhere on the east coast. If Stefan had officially cut her out of the family, then no one would be interested in her or her daughter. Yes, she convinces herself, this might just work out for the best after all.
Emma would be delighted, no doubt - she had never seemed content with only weekend and Christmas vacations with her mother, and this past year had been very hard for her. Alexis had not been able to arouse suspiscion by leaving Port Charles for any more than a day or two at a time, and even that was infrequent. This past Christmas was the first one they had ever spent apart, and Alexis had been wracked with guilt throughout the Holiday. Emma was mature for her age but, like most 13 year-olds, she still needed a mother's constant love and influence in her life. She would be thrilled to know that they could perhaps live together permanently. Alexis would have to be careful, of course, but she is confident that things can be arranged.
She downs the last swallow of her drink, and turns around to stand up, almost bumping into Ned, who has seen her from the doorway and approached quietly.
Alexis: Oh. Ned, I'm sorry, I didn't see you.
Ned: That's quite alright. I enjoy having the upper hand for once. But please, don't let me interrupt...I believe you were leaving...
Alexis: (under her breath) In more ways than one (starts to leave).
Ned: (catches her arm) What is that supposed to mean?
Alexis: (looking at him as though he is wasting her time) I'm sure you'll be thrilled to know that I'm leaving Port Charles....permanently.
Ned: (trying to appear non-chalant) Oh? Your cousin sending you off to romance another corporation out of it's millions?
Alexis has long since given up on this line of questioning, but she is still saddened by what she knows he thinks of her.
Alexis: (looking at him almost wistfully) .....Goodbye Ned.
She turns slowly and walks out of the bar, towards the elevators. Ned, who is failing in his attempts to appear disinterested, sees where she is going and follows her.
Ned: (approaching from behind) You know, the last time I checked, these elevators didn't go all the way to Wyndemere. Surely you are not going to tell me you still keep a suite in my fine establishment?
Alexis: For the moment, yes. Look, Ned, I really don't feel like discussing this with you right now. I'm tired, and I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow, so if you'll excuse me....
Ned: (smiling wryly) You're going to spend your last night in Port Charles in a hotel, rather than with your loving family?
Alexis: (becoming mildly irritated at his persistence) I really don't see why it's any concern of yours. As I recall, I was given the distinct impression that I was the enemy, so why on earth should you care about me or my family problems- (stops herself, realizing she may have said too much).
Ned: Problems? Well, now I am intrigued. Does this mean you are not leaving our fair city of your own free will? Can it be that there is a rift within the Cassadine ranks....
The elevator doors slide open and Alexis steps in gratefully. Unfortunately, Ned also gets on the otherwise empty elevator.
Alexis: Really Ned, this is none of your concern, and quite honestly, I'm confused by your persistence. We aren't seeing each other any more. My life no longer concerns you in any way.
Ned: Au contraire, my dear. Ever since you and your cousin wreaked havok with my life, I believe I have the right to determine what concerns me.
Alexis: Fine, then concern yourself all you like (the doors open, she steps out)....just leave me out of it.
Ned watches her leave and turn to go down the hall as the doors slide shut. On the way back down to the lobby, he resolves to forget about their conversation and turn his attention back to business, where it belongs. His resolve is short-lived however, as he steps off the elvator and sees a determined-looking Nikolas heading straight for him.
Nikolas: Mr. Ashton, have you seen my cousin? Is she alright?
From Nikolas' demeanor, Ned gathers that he knows nothing of their recent split and decides to use this to his advantage.
Ned: (appearing concerned) Yes, she just went up to her suite, I'm sure you can still catch her before she turns in.
Nikolas: Good, thank you (turns to go). Ned: (bluffing) She was visibly upset about her falling out with your uncle, but she wouldn't go into the details. Only that she's leaving tomorrow...permanently.
Nikolas: (swallowing Ned's bait) I don't understand what happened. I came home and when Uncle heard me inquire about Alexis, he informed me that she was no longer living with us, nor was she to be considered a part of our family any longer! He wouldn't tell me anything else, so I came here to try to get an explanation.
The elevator doors open and Nikolas steps on. Ned is fighting to remain disinterested, but he is dying to know what could have driven a wedge this size between Stefan and Alexis. Perhaps there was more to the Jakarta incident than met the eye. Making up his mind, he gets on the next available elevator and makes his way to Alexis' door, where he can just make out the conversation she is having inside with Nikolas:
Alexis: Nikolas, I'm sorry, I will miss you, and I love you very much, but I have to go back to New York.
Nikolas: But why would Uncle say you were no longer a part of the family? What happened between you?
Alexis: Nikolas, I can't go into all the gory details, but suffice it to say that Stefan and I are no longer on familial terms.
Nikolas: That much I figured out for myself. What did he do?
Alexis: What makes you think it was something he did?
Nikolas: Because, he's always ruining his personal relationships - with me, Katherine, and now you. I won't allow you to leave without telling me the truth - you are still my cousin, and as the future heir, I demand to know the truth - I am tired of being lied to and protected by everyone over the age of 20. Please Alexis, don't leave without being honest with me.
Alexis wavers momentarily before deciding to tell Nikolas everything. She realizes that by being honest with him now, she may regain some of his trust. He is visibly shaken as she describes her manipulation of George and her scheming with Leo, but remains silent and lets her finish the whole sordid tale. When she is done, Nikolas is calm, but appears confused.
Nikolas: You mentioned something about him interfering in your personal life as well. What did you mean?
Alexis: (wearily) Oh, that....(taking a deep breath) Stefan didn't approve of my relationship with Ned Ashton - why, I don't know - so he deliberately sabotaged one of ELQ's oversees holdings and then made sure that Ned found out, unofficially of course, that it was Cassadine Inc. who was responsible. Naturally, Ned assumed I had betrayed him and now wants nothing to do with me. So you see Nikolas, all my bridges have been burned. Aside from you, there is nothing left for me here.
Nikolas: (after a long pause) I'm not saying that I forgive what you did; Katherine is my friend and I find it hard to believe she could be the same person you describe. I do however, understand that your intentions were good - though I don't think Uncle will be as reasonable.
Alexis: (with a sad smile) No, he wasn't, and you know what they say about the road to Hell...
Nikolas: Look, I understand why you are leaving, but I don't want to lose any more of my family. I would like to continue to keep in touch.
Alexis: I would like that, I doubt that Stefan will approve, but-
Nikolas: He can't control my life - he knows that now.
Alexis walks over to Nikolas and kisses him on the cheek.
Alexis:(smiling sadly) I'm going to miss you.
Nikolas: And I, you.....promise me you'll e-mail me when you get settled.
Alexis: I promise.
Nikolas: (smiling) Good.
Nikolas walks to the door and hesitates as he has a sudden change of heart. He walks back to his cousin and pulls her into his arms for a warm hug, the first time he has done so since she re- entered his life over a year ago. Then, after saying goodbye one last time, he leaves....and just misses Ned slipping around the corner out of sight.
After Nikolas gets on the elevator, Ned takes a deep breath and strides purposefully back towards Alexis' door.