"The events of the week have been tiresome but fruitful." An exhausted Stavros thought to himself. "I will make my reintroduction to the world, and more importantly to Port Charles tonight." He grinned knowing the havoc he was about to unleash. "Ari, is everything ready?' Stavros questioned.
"Yes sir, everything has been put in place down to the last detail, the men are on standby waiting for you to give the word." Ari was pleased to tell his oldest and dearest friend. "Your mother is planning to attend the ball, as is Spencer." Ari smiled knowing everyone's world would soon be turned upside down.
"Your daughter will be released this evening, one way or another. Stavros my friend are you sure the melt down she had was not real? If we take her out and she was not faking this whole episode we could do some true damage to her." Ari looked at Stavros with true concern in his eyes.
"Yes, I am positive. I have watched her grow from a distance her whole life, powerless to protect her. This is exactly what she would do to protect herself. I know this because it is exactly what I would do." Stavros said trying to convince not only Ari but himself as well. "My daughter has made many mistakes my friend, but shooting the man who stole her child was not one of them." Stavros said as he stared at a picture of Carly and Michael. "It has been a long time in the works but I have depleted my mother of her power and those who were loyal to her are now loyal to me. And while Stefan has been so preoccupied with his, what is the saying the Americans use? 'Common as dirt' fiancé I have taken most of those loyal to him as well, not to mention tonight while he is toasting his soon to be bride, all Cassadine holdings will revert back to me. Yes tonight we make our move as planned." With that Stavros went to his bedchamber to shower and get ready for the ball.
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"Oh Carly, please talk to me. If this meltdown was not real I promise I will not be mad, I just need you to look at me, to let me put my arms around you, to love you the way I have loved you your whole life." Bobbie pleaded with her daughter, tears rolling down her face. "This isn't fair, I just got you back I can't lose you again. I won't lose you again." The tears have now turned to sobs.
No longer being able to stand to see her birth mother in such pain, the woman she had done such horrible things to the woman whose life she ripped apart the woman who loved her despite all her wrong doings, Carly reached for her mothers hand and squeezed it. When Bobbie looked up at her she gave her a small smile and a wink.
"Carly? Oh you have got to be kidding me. You have been faking this whole time haven't you? I have spent a whole week sick to my stomach crying my eyes out with worry and you have been FAKING!" Bobbie scolded but with some relief.
"You promised you wouldn't be mad." Carly said with terror in her voice.
"Baby I'm not mad I am afraid. Afraid for you for Michael, why? Why would you do this?" Bobbie pleaded with her daughter for answers.
"Mama" Carly began realizing that she has just called Bobbie mama for the first time. Seeing the look and light in Bobbies eyes she said it again, "Mama, Tony and A.J. they both showed up here saying they were going to take Michael away from me. I was so scarred. I am still so scarred." Carly began to cry. "I cannot lose him, but I am powerless to do anything about it. And Jason he has no idea when he can get me out of here. He has my son, MY SON, and he stops by to keep me posted when it is convenient for him." By this time Carly is sobbing herself.
Bobbie looked at her daughter and her heart ached she put her arms around her and held her with everything she had. "One way or another I will get you out of this. If I have to take You, Lucas, and Michael and we all have to go on the run, somewhere no one will ever find us, that is exactly what I will do." Bobbie said with true conviction "Your fate will no longer be left up to Jason Morgan."
Carly looked deep into her mothers eyes and knew she meant what she said, for the first time since this whole nightmare began she felt safe. "You Promise?" she asked
"Yes, I promise, give me a day or two and you will be holding your son again." Bobbie told her. She hugged and kissed her daughter and with that she left.
As Bobbie stood outside her daughter's door she paused to breath, she new what had to be done and she would do it. She would go to Stefan's stupid ball tonight and in her own way she would say goodbye to her family and friends in a way that would not raise suspicion, and then she would break Carly out of Ferncliff, (she was a Spencer after all) she would tell Jason she needed sometime alone with Michael, he had never refused her that, she would pack up herself and Lucas and they would all four run. Bobbie wiped away a small tear and steadied herself for the journey ahead.
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"Katherine are you ready, the guests will be arriving shortly," Stefan called from behind the closed door.
"I am almost done, just a few more moments." She replied. "Stefan everything looks so wonderful, I can't believe the magic you have done to the barn, it looks like something out of a fairytale." Katherine stated as she walked out of the room to face Stefan.
"Only the best for you, you look like something out of a fairytale." Stefan whispered as looked at her for the first time in her ball gown.
"Flatterer" She said simply. "Shall we?"
"Yes, all is ready, and we must prepare to greet our guests." He smiled.
The ballroom was filled and lit with elegant candles, the dance floor was made of marble and in the center it displayed the Cassadine Crest, a huge antique chandler hung above. The Champaign was ready to be served. The stage was set for the most extravagant ball Port Charles had ever seen.
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"I am pleased you have decided to stay late and speak with me Dr. Conley, I assure you, after you hear what I have to say you will not regret it." The intimidating man stated.
"Yes, well you really left me no choice." The Dr, said flatly. "What do want from me?"
"It's simple I want you to sign the release for Caroline Benson, nothing more nothing less." The man stated.
"That I cannot do the woman is certifiable, you can go back to Mr. Morgan and tell him I will not bow to the mob." The Dr. said
"Mr. Morgan, I do not work for Mr. Morgan." The man leaned in and said "I work for a man who would squash Morgan like a bug." He backed up a little looked in Conley's eyes and said "Certifiable or not you will release Caroline. You see I have it on good authority that you; The Good Dr. have issues of your own." With that the man pulled out a file and handed it to the Dr.
Conley opened it and went into shock. As he looked at pictures of himself with several different women, "You bastered, how did you do this? I have never been with these women." He yelled.
"Oh that is only the beginning if you read on you will see that you have also stolen funds from this establishment and placed them in accounts you have overseas." The man challenged
"What? I have never." He began.
But the man interrupted, "You have now, the proof is all there and will be given to the board of directors as well as your wife. Now tell me is one crazy patient worth loosing everything, including your freedom?" The man paused a moment and then continued, "Here is the account numbers do as you wish with the money in the accounts it is yours to keep. But the girl comes with me tonight. Do we have an agreement?"
"Do I have a choice?' Conley asked disgusted
"Not really, but trust me you are getting off easy, over a million dollars in an offshore account, you keep your good name, and in turn I get Miss. Benson. Not a bad deal my prince is most defiantly in a generous mood." The man said.
And with that the Dr. signed the papers declaring Caroline Leah Benson legally sane and released her.
Two very tall very muscular men walked into her room with Dr. Conley, she peaked at them through the corner of her eye as she pretended to rock her pillow.
"You can give up the pretence Miss. Caroline, I have insured your release. Isn't that right Dr. Conley?" One of the men stated in a deep voice with a strange accent Carly was not familiar with.
"Yes, that is correct. I don't know who your friends are, but they can be very persuasive." Conley said in a very unhappy voice, a voice filled with anger and resentment. A voice that Carly knew in her gut was not fake.
She slowly put the pillow down looked at men and asked, "Was it Jason?"
The man who seemed to Carly to be in charge replied "No Jason Morgan has not lifted a finger to get you out of here."
Carly wanted to cry but didn't dare and said "My Mother? This was Bobbie?"
Knowing that if Carly thought her mother were behind this she would go willingly and without question the man said "I am doing this for your family. I am indebted to them forever. I will assure your safety and the safety of your son."
Carly looked at him and felt the bile rise in her throat.
"Please tell me what is wrong?" he asked softly.
"I have been sitting here rotting forever. Jason said he was doing everything he could to get me out and all I got from him was sit and wait. Than Bobbie, the woman who's life I ripped apart tells me a few short hours ago she would get me out of here and now I am free." Carly felt like a fool. "I mean I know she has Spencer connections but if she could get me out why couldn't Jas, Never mind I don't want to know. I just want MY son." She said in a cold icy tone that sent shivers down the men's back.
"She is defiantly her fathers daughter the man thought to himself." He looked her in the eye and asked in a soft tone. "Are you ready to leave?"
"You have no idea." She said and with that she walked out the doors of Ferncliff never to look back.
"Where too?" Carly asked.
"Why to pick up your son, and go to your mothers of course." The man stated.
As Carly got in the Limo and closed the door the man made a phone call. "It is I. Yes, everything went as planned with one small change she believes it was her mother that had her released. I told her we are going to her mothers brownstone after we pick up the child."
"Well if that is where she wants to go take her there, explain to her that Bobbie has to make some more arrangements and will meet her when she is finished. I have it on good authority Bobbie will be at the ball this evening. After her mother and I talk we will come to her together." Stavros stated without hesitation. "And Maliki, you stay with her. Assemble a team to watch over her and my grandson. Protect them." Stavros added.
"With my life, my prince." He said and disconnected the call.
