Chapter
1
His
mind, so wrapped up in her, he thought he could actually taste the memory of her lips
Her
beautiful, perfect lips, the color of strawberries
All
he could think of was how he would never tire of his lips tasting, touching hers
Her
lips revealing that she as a mystery and a surprise and utterly predictable all at the same time
The
way she kissed
The
way she kissed
She
revealed a woman of unfathomable strength and heart wrenching vulnerability
Her
lips, told everything, absolutely everything…
Now
everything about her…
Gone
Gone
from his life
The
taste of her lips from her morning coffee. The taste of her lip gloss in the afternoon, and the taste of red wine in the evening
She
was gone from his lips
He
thought of all these things as he stared at the overcast clouds below him
“We
are ready to begin our dissention in to New York City. We ask that you please put away all electronical devices…
please place your seat in an upright position…”
Ric
turned his attention and prepared to land
He
was love sick and broken hearted and all of those mushy things he would never want to admit to being
He
pulled his tie tight and straightened it
He
missed her, he missed Kristina
+++++++++++++++++
Ric
looked at his watch
His
plane had been late and he already had to bypass his hotel to meet his old friend John Casey. John had called him asking him
to represent him in a meeting with investors for his new venture. Ric was happy to do it. It would get him out of Port Charles,
and hopefully get her off his mind
The
cab ride went quickly as he was wrapped up in his thoughts
“Ric
Lansing” John said extending his hand and then motioning for him to sit at the table across from him
“John”
“I
can’t tell you how much I appreciate you coming to help me with this”
“No
problem at all. It’s actually nice to get out of Port Charles for a while”
“Yeah?
I heard you got married”
“Uh
yes, yes I did”
“Well
you don’t sound like a gloating newlywed to me”
“It’s
complicated”
“You
didn’t marry the wrong woman did you?” John asked lightly
“No…
She’s perfect, I’m the fool”
John
felt a bit awkward
“Well
I don’t mean to pry in your personal life, but I’m sure you’ll work it out”
“I’m
trying” Ric said, his eyes fixated on the glass water in front of him
“Look
Ric if this isn’t a good time to be in the city…”
“No,
no it’s good to have something to be focused on”
“You’re
sure?”
“Yeah”
“Well
Ric you know I trust you. And as I mentioned before I would like to keep this under wraps for the time being. I have a few
competitors out these that are itching to find out what I’m up to”
“I
assure you your confidentiality is safe with me”
“I
know and that’s why I asked you to be here.” Jon leaned back to get more comfortable in his chair. “Tonight
I’ve arranged for you to meet my first choice in investors, Michael Silver over cocktails. He likes new innovative ventures
and has made billions taking risks with them. But don’t be thrown off by his laundry list, he thinks things through
thoroughly and he always has a team of people who will investigate his interest down to the crumb”
“Sounds
like a good choice then”
“I
think so. I just know he likes a challenge and he likes to play hardball. Silver and I are business acquaintances and of course
we’ve spoken many times in the last few months. Now its just time to bring the lawyers in, let you guys harsh out the
gory details”
“I
understand”
“You
went over all the proposals?”
“Front
to back”
“Everything
looks ok to you?”
“It
looks well planned, thorough to say the least”
“Well
thank you, I’ve had several attorney’s from my JS Company to draft and re-draft…”
“Wouldn’t
you want them to represent you? I mean John you keep them as your staff lawyers obviously you trust them enough…”
“I
had them do the tedious part, I want fresh blood, someone who’s not bogged down with it”
“Good
enough I guess. I mean you’re a smart man but you also get what you want”
“Exactly
and you are the one I want to carry this deal through”
“Well
I’m honored to do so and I promise you won’t be disappointed”
“Good
then! I saw you get out of the cab with your luggage, I assume you haven’t
had a chance to get to the hotel?”
“No,
flight was delayed”
“Then
please by all means go and check in to the hotel, refresh yourself before our meeting tonight. I think you will find you will
be very comfortable at The Four seasons. And we’re actually meeting in the hotel lobby at 6:45. So you’ll only
have an elevator ride down, you’ll have plenty of time to settle in…
John
and Ric both stood up and walked out on to the sidewalk in front of the restaurant. They shook hands once again
“Ric,
like I said before I’m glad you could join me in making this deal happen”
“It’s
certainly my pleasure”
“There
is a car waiting for you” John said pointing to the driver standing with an awaiting opened car door
Ric
nodded “Thank you and I will see you at 6:45”
+++++++++++++++++
He
had time, too much time
His
hotel room was more than comfortable and luxurious. Anything and everything was at his fingertips. All Ric had to do was pick
up the phone and his every whim fulfilled thanks to John
He
stood by the window looking down on to the city streets. The people on the sidewalks so tiny and nondescript but he wasn’t
watching them
His
eyes stared but his mine was fully engulfed with her
“Alexis?”
“You're
very clever, I'll give you that.”
“You
ok?”
“You're
an excellent liar -- lawyer. Sorry. Sometimes I get the two confused. Well done, though. I mean, the banter, the repartee.
It was very good.”
“What
happened?”
“I
never thought that I would be able to really identify with your brother, but I can. I do. Carly lying to him for months over
coffee in the morning, trying to put the family together. I just didn't really realize that it would be that painful.”
“Tell
me what happened.”
“Did
you honestly think that I wouldn't find out that you knew all along that Sonny was Kristina's father? That you knew about
it for months, that you knew about it almost from the beginning?”
“I
can explain.”
“Of
course you can explain. Lawyers can explain. They're trained to explain. It's just the ones that can explain anything at anyone's
expense are the ones that give the rest of us a bad name. But don't worry. Despite everything that I believed, everything
that I felt, you used me. You used me to get to your brother.”
He
would lie in bed at night replaying that conversation in his head. Now as days were turning in to weeks he found himself replaying
the conversation in the daytime too.
In
his car
At
work
The
gym
Her
face, the sight of her tear stained cheeks all caused by him and that conversation
It
could drive a man insane
And
it made for a grueling afternoon in a luxurious hotel
Ric
looked in to the mirror as he finished tying his tie; he slid the jacket to his suit over his shoulders and buttoned the perfectly
pressed suit against his body
The
next few hours at least would be nothing about her
+++++++++++++++
He
again straightened his suit before stepping off the elevator into the lobby
“Ric!
Over here” John called out before Ric had a chance to even look over the bar area of the restaurant
“We’re
waiting on Silver and his lawyer… shall we go ahead and be seated?”
Ric
nodded
“I
hope you find yoursuite satisfactory”
“More
than satisfactory. I appreciate you going to such great lengths”
“Not
a problem… you’re a friend. I want my friends to have their every need and want fulfilled”
“Again
thank you”
As
Ric finished his sentence
John
began to stand as he saw Michael Silver approaching the table
“John”
Michael said holding out his hand to greet him
“Michael”
John said returning the handshake “This is my lawyer Ric Lancing”
Ric
stood giving a firm handshake to Michael
“I
apologize my lawyer was flying in today and it seems flights have been delayed all day…”
“No
apologies needed” John said sincerely “Ric, himself had a delayed flight
“Yes
I think the weather has put a glitch in travels plans today” Ric said chiming in
It
wasn’t a moment later when Ric’s eyes widened. His heart fluttered. He suddenly was unable to control every breath
he tried to take
“Oh
there she is” Michael said standing to greet her
Her
eyes met his
She
froze but quickly composed herself with the sound of her name being called
“Alexis…”
Michael
had said her name aloud
It
wasn’t an illusion
She
was there in front of him
“Alexis
Davis, I’d like you to meet John Casey”
She
shook his hand, she smiled at him in complete professionalism with the lips Ric was consumed with
“And
this is his lawyer, Ric Lancing”
What
would she do
How
did they meet? Shake each other’s had like strangers instead of husband and wife, lovers… or both react the way
they were both feeling at that very moment
She
held her hand out
“Ric”
His
name on her lips
This
time however his name with more enunciation
“Alexis”
Ric said, his voice fading as he shook her hand
End
Ch.1
