Chapter 3: Caviar Anyone?
**Sullivan Manor – Dining Room**
It was around nine-thirty in the night and the service men had finished setting up the dinner table, Victorian style with clean, crystal goblets next to ever plate and forks and spoons aligned with approximate space in between. Anything less would’ve been uncivilized. By nine thirty-four only one butler remained in the room to finish lighting the candles, as if the huge chandelier that was mocking the ceiling wasn’t enough.
Carly walked coolly into the room, fidgeting with her purse that matched her exquisite, strapless red dress. She was more surprised at the butler than the allure of the room. “Reginald,” Carly exclaimed getting closer to the Quartermaine’s ex-butler. Reginald returned her surprised look and nervously blew out the match.
“Uh, Carly--,” he didn’t have much of a response.
“Are you working here now?” Carly placed her arms across her chest and put on a smirk as she said, “Don’t tell me you got bored with the Quartermaines?”
“If only,” Reginald muttered. He turned to the open doors noticing another couple entering. “I have to go,” he said taking one last glance at Carly, “I’ll explain everything later.” With that he hurriedly walked off. Carly was about to go after him but was stopped by the huge length of the table and the giggling of the couple that caught her eye.
Zander and Elizabeth finally separated glances from eachother as they walked into the dining room, both dressed formally. Liz with an elegant black cocktail dress and Zander with in a tux. “Hey Carly,” Zander said with a smile as he walked across the room, holding on to Liz’s hand as they took their seats. “How’ve you been?”
“I’m good, thanks.” Carly smiled as she took a seat opposite to them. “But I guess I can’t say the same for you.” She said with a frown as she glared at Elizabeth. Elizabeth sighed and held on to Zander’s hand. She didn’t know what Zander ever saw in Carly, but whatever it was she was pretty sure that in one point of his life Zander was head over heals for that woman.
“Are we still in the same country? The last time I heard dinner was served around six,” Leo proclaimed as he entered the dining room. After thirty minutes to trying to make an attempt at his tie, he quit and allowed Gia to fix it up for him. He always hated suits. He much rather preferred the smell of old clean jeans and a t-shirt. He shook hands with Zander and then walked over to sit next to Carly, pulling her into a hug.
“Where’s Gia? Are you still driving her crazy?” Carly asked with a crafty grin.
“It’s more like the other way around.” Leo chortled. “She’ll be down soon.” Leo turned towards Elizabeth and Zander. “You must be Elizabeth, Zander’s told me about you.”
Elizabeth looked at Zander and raised a brow. “Did he?”
“So.” Zander coughed indicating to Leo to move on to a different subject. “Leo, didn’t know you knew Carly.”
“Yeah.” Leo nodded taking a swift glimpse at Carly. “I met her once when she and Gia were having lunch.”
“I thought I heard my name.” Gia said, in the doorway making her entrance.
“Wow.” Leo’s jaw dropped at the sight of Gia in an awe-inspiring cerulean dress that looked practically painted on her as if no one else could look better in it.
“I know.” Gia smirked making her way to Carly. “Hey, good to see you again.” She said hugging her friend.
“You too.” Carly hugged back. “Show off,” she whispered in her ear.
“Proud of it.” Gia whispered back. They both laughed as they pulled away from their embrace, and Gia took her seat next to Leo. “Hey Z,” she said to Zander.
“Hey G,” Zander grinned back.
“Elizabeth.” Gia said in a civil tone.
“Gia.” Liz said in the same tone.
Gia partly smiled and looked back at her husband, closing his jaw with two fingers formed like a scout. “Leo,” she whispered in his ear, “honey, it’s not really polite to leave your mouth open like that.”
“Well in that case is drooling aloud?” Leo beamed a grin.
A few minutes later, dinner was served yet five seats remained empty.
“Well this certainly is one drably party,” Tracy Quartermaine exclaimed from the doorway. She walked in like a fresh breeze that woke up a person in a deep sleep, but Carly and Elizabeth both looked at her as if a train wreck had just occured. She took off her expensive fur coat and handed it to one of the butlers standing on the corner. The butler nodded without a word and took the coat. She grabbed the man she came with by the arm and dragged him to their seats. “Hope none of you mind that I’m fashionably late,” she said with a sneer.
The man released his hand from her grasp and muttered, “I don’t think they’d mind if you ever came.” Max Holden returned the scoff.
“Why Caroline?” Tracy said, finally noticing Carly’s existence within the room. “What a surprise it is to see you here?”
“I could say the same,” Carly mumbled. “What are you doing here Tracy?”
“Mr. Sullivan himself invited me. Now where is that dear old man?”
“If he’s lucky, he’s probably hiding from you,” Max said, taking a sip of his drink.
Tracy gave him a sharp look but quickly turned to the girl sitting next to him. “And if it isn’t little Lizzie Webber,” Tracy laughed haughtily, “Oh, my little Emily’s best friend. Tell me how is Emily these days? I’ve hardly had a chance to speak to her lately.”
Elizabeth sighed and fiddled her fork around her salad as if it were something to paint. She was going to scream if that woman called her Lizzie again. “She’s fine. I spoke to her recently.”
Tracy nodded once and then turned to look at Zander. “And who might you be?”
“Zander,” he introduced blankly before taking a bite out of his steak.
“Zander.” Tracy said quietly. “Emily always spoke of a boy named Zander.”
“I should know.” Zander swallowed. “I’m him.”
“Oh, are you still dating my little Emily?”
“No.” Elizabeth cut in. “Actually, Zander and I are together now.” Elizabeth informed and tried not to notice Carly rolling her eyes. Zander slouched a little and tried to concentrate on chewing.
“My my. You certainly do get around. I suppose you and Emily aren’t quite acquainted anymore.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “Emily and I are still very good friends, Ms. Quartermaine.”
“That’s good to know.” Tracy pursed her lips as she was served a Derby-toss salad and a glass of marmalade. “Bought marmalade,” she frowned as she stared at the drink.
Max took in a deep breath. He was hoping to get threw this trip with Tracy as soon as possible. At times, Tracy made Roxy seem better. At least with Roxy, he could form and layout his schemes; Tracy on the other hand, knew every trick in the book. He knew his convictions wouldn't work with her, which made it more of a challenge.
“You know, I do believe I like Emily out of all the Quartermaines. She always seems so much more---,” she snapped her fingers, “What’s the word?—Sane.”
“Something the Quartermaines wouldn’t know about.” Carly added, taking a sip of water.
Tracy smiled like a cat that just ate a mouse. “Oh, yes but neither would you dear. As I do recall overhearing, weren’t you in a mental institution a few years back.” All eyes laid on Carly.
Carly clinked her fork down. “You know Tracy, seeing you again brings back some memories?”
“Oh. How so?” Tracy asked intriguingly.
“Yes.” Carly nodded. “It reminds me of what I would use to say to AJ while I was stuck being married to him. I believe it was ‘Either take some soap to shut your mouth up, or take some soap to shove it up your--.”
“Hello everyone,” Vaughn said making his entrance before Carly could finish her insult. He fixed up his Armani suite and took the host seat and watched the pairs of eyes looking at him. “Welcome to the Sullivan Manor. I’m Mike. Mr. Sullivan, the owner of this wonderful estate that you’re invited to, was unfortunately unable to join you all this evening, so I’ll be your host.”
“Well, this Mr. Sullivan has obviously never heard of separate dinner tables in a hotel,” Carly said, leaning back on her chair.
“Oh, there are separate dinner tables, this is just for one night. In order for the guests to get acquainted.” Vaughn pointed out. “You see, here is a resort where you can live off the Victorian ages. It was just built a year ago, but Mr. Sullivan made sure the contractor made in the 1930s style. Highly classy.” He forced a grin on his face, pretending that he was actually enjoying this act.
“I’m sure.” Tracy gave half a smile.
“Hey Mike,” Leo said, “How come you didn’t tell us in the pool room that you were our host?”
Vaughn shrugged. “Never asked.”
“How could we? You were the one asking all the questions.” Zander affirmed.
“I’m sorry if my curiosity disturbed you,” he said while cutting his salmon. “I thought it would be proper to get to know some of the guests here.”
“Well that seems reasonable enough.” Elizabeth nudged at Zander’s bitterness and then turned to smile at Vaughn. “So how do you know Mr. Sullivan?”
“We’re cousins,” Vaughn said.
“Why did your cousin decide to make a house like this?” Elizabeth asked. “I mean its beautiful and all---.”
Vaughn shrugged and swallowed the piece of fish. “I have absolutely no idea. I think he just likes the aura of Victorian mansions.” He cleared his throat as he looked at the two empty seats.
“What a geek,” Max chortled lightly to Tracy, who pretentiously rolled her eyes. Max looked up and saw Vaughn’s sharp expression. “Well I didn’t mean you.”
“It’s alright, Mr. Holden.”
“How’d you know my name?” Max asked.
“Well as your host, I’m intended to know everyone who’s staying here.”
“That’s another thing,” Zander added, “How come there aren’t allot of people staying here? I mean you expect in a place like this with practically a zillion rooms.”
“Well its an exclusive resort,” Vaughn answered quickly and then turned to look at Tracy. “You must be Ms. Quartermaine? As in ELQ?”
“Guilty,” Tracy giggled.
“There’s a word I never thought you’d use on yourself,” Carly snipped in. She sighed and leaned back on her chair for a second, the more she saw this place the more she realized that it wasn’t Jason’s style. He would never go here, much less invite anyone here.
Vaughn turned and noticed Carly’s disappointment. “Something wrong?” He asked.
Carly cut off her thoughts and shook her head. “No, I think—I think I better go tuck my son into bed.”
Vaughn nodded. “Nice meeting you.”
“You too, uh—Mike, right?” She watched him nod his head. Spinning her head she smiled at Zander, Leo, and Gia, gave both Tracy and Elizabeth a grimace before walking out the door.
“How is the business going these days?” Vaughn asked after another bite. He was one good cover up. Vaughn’s questions never seemed like direct inquiries; it always sounded more like he was making small talk.
“Oh you know how it is. There’s the ups and downs. But I wouldn’t know, I made a rather unfortunate mistake with ELQ,” Tracy said without consideration of the fact that she could’ve given away too much. But no one noticed except for Vaughn.
There was another odd moment of silence as everyone continued their meals. Two minutes later the commotion was back.
“I told you we were going to be late,” Anna complained as she and David entered the dining room, much to nearly everyone’s surprise. Leo looked up and saw his older brother standing there with his wife. His throat went weak and he immediately picked up his handkerchief and spitted out the caviar in his mouth.
“Leo.” David said, his voice partially startled. “What are you doing here?”
Leo tried to speak but all that came out of his mouth was a loud cough. Gia patted his back like he was a wounded little boy who needed desperately to burb. “Well,” he said finally getting his voice back, “I could ask you the same thing. What are you doing here?”
“I asked first,” David complained.
“Uh,” Leo looked around at everyone, then to Gia, and then back at David, “I guess I should tell you. Although frankly if I was waiting for desert,” he took Gia’s hand, “David. I’d like for you meet my wife.”
“Wife?” David arched a brow and partly smiled at Gia. “Well. Um,” he scratched his head for a quick second, “Uh, congratulations. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Anna stood next to him not knowing whether to worry about Leo’s new nuptials or the fact that Vaughn had been eyeing her since she got into the room.
“Yeah.” Leo wiped his mouth with another clean handkerchief. “It was supposed to be a surprise.” He glanced at Gia, giving her a look that begged her to help him out.
“Yes, precisely--- a surprise,” Anna inserted.
David gave his wife a doubtful look. “You knew about this?”
“Of course,” Anna lied easily, “That’s why I brought you here. Leo was supposed to announce his nuptials with his bride.” Anna nodded at Gia, who shrugged to herself, thinking it was best to go along with it.
“That’s right.” She stood up and took Leo’s arm, making him go up with her. “Anna,” she said walking over to them, “Good to see you again.”
“You too.” Anna realized that she was playing along as well.
“Wait, wait,” David interrupted and looked at his brother, “If you knew I was going to be here, then why did you look so shocked when I came out the door.”
“Well--,” Leo stammered.
Gia put a hand over Leo’s shoulder and said, “Well we weren’t expecting you two until tomorrow. We had everything planned out. I mean the lunch reservations…” She said reassuringly.
Leo took her other hand and pulled through a smile. “David, this is Gia---du Pres.”
David looked uncertainly at the item and then at the ring adorning Gia’s finger. He turned to face Anna, who urging him with her eyes to say something. He looked at the table full of guests watching them, “You mind? This isn’t an open show.” When everyone slowly returned to their meals, David returned to Gia. “Uh—I’m sorry if I’m not giving the ‘welcome to the family’ speech, but I’m kind of taken back at this.”
“Its fine.” Gia nodded. “I mean you have every reason to be. Your brother being to ignorant and all to mention that he got married—well, yeah that would be much of a surprise.”
“Ignorant?” Leo frowned at Gia.
“This is good though.” David said with a smile and patted Leo’s shoulder. “I mean your finally getting on.”
Anna stepped forward and said in a low voice. “How about we discuss this later over that lunch tomorrow?”
“That sounds like a good idea,” David agreed. “Is that fine with the two of you?”
“Of course.” Gia answered and Leo nodded. Before Anna took her seat, she looked at Leo both pairs of eyes saying the same thing; they both had allot of explaining to do.
Once everyone got seated again, Vaughn caught Anna looking his direction. He knew she was trying desperately to figure out what he had in stored. He looked past her and at David. “Dr. Hayawrd, just what type of practice do you exactly do?”
“I’m a cardiac surgeon,” David answered, before he began to eat.
“Wait a minute, your David Hayward?” Tracy watched David nod. “So is it true about your mother?”
“You mean is our mother a insane former drug queen?” Leo clanked his fork down wrathfully. “Well yeah, I guess she is. Mind if we move on to a different subject?” Everyone noticed how uncomfortable Leo became with the mention of his mother and didn’t bother to refute.
“Well aren’t we touchy,” Tracy clipped.
“Leave it alone, woman,” Max said dryly, earning himself a glare from Tracy.
“So Gia,” Elizabeth began as after taking a sip of water, “Tell me, how did you and Leo meet?” David and Anna looked up; they had also been wondering the same thing a few minutes ago.
Gia pasted a smile to her face, hoping that no one could see right threw her lie. Leo kept his head down at his food, and continued to chew hastily. “Oh, well,” she cleared her throat and put her hand over Leo’s. “We met in this restaurant in New York.”
Elizabeth raised a brow. “And the next thing you know your married?”
“Elizabeth,” Zander said softly, and nudged her arm; it was her turn to be reasonable.
“Its okay, Z.” Gia smiled at Zander and looked back at Elizabeth, her hand not leaving Leo’s. “It was kind of a spur of the moment thing.”
“Sorry if I’m being too intrusive for you, its just surprising how you’ve moved on so easily. Especially after you were holding both Nikolas and Lucky in the palm of your hand.” She said with a slight frown; it was the most typical and invariable cliché for two brothers to fight over one girl. Leo and Zander both faced eachother knowing that no good could come of this.
Gia chortled roughly but lightly. “I’m surprised you noticed since you were too busy juggling both Zander and Jason.” She smirked at Elizabeth.
Max took one last long drink before returning to Tracy and gesturing to his nearly empty plate. “I’m ready to go.”
But Tracy’s eyes were already lit up. “Why? This is getting interesting.”
“Okay.” Leo said grabbing the sterling silver tray of caviar and holding it up, “Well, uh, caviar anyone?”
**Sullivan Manor—Third Floor, Room # 48—After the dinnner**
“Yeah I didn’t get much today,” Vaughn said on the phone as he flicked off CNN from his TV screen and fluffed his pillow before placing his head back on it with the receiver still glued to his ear. “One things for sure, all of them have something they don’t wanna admit.”
“Are you sure you didn’t get anything?” Cannes asked on the other line.
“It was like watching a classier version of Rikki Lake. But I did get a few mentions of their personal lives though. I suppose I can use that to get threw to them.”
“That bad, huh?”
“However Tracy Quartermaine did say that she made an unfortunate mistake with ELQ. I couldn’t concentrate on Hayward—I think he was too focused on his brother’s new-found marriage.”
“Anything else?”
“Yeah. Zander Smith—I should watch out for him, he’s getting pretty curious about things.”
“Like what?”
“Like why such a hotel as big as this one only has a couple of customers.”
“I’ll get some people on that,” Cannes said directly.
“While you’re at it, get me a background profile on a Mr. Maxwell Holden. Apparently he’s Ms. Quartermaine’s acquaintance or accomplice, if she happens to be the one.”
“What about Gia Campbell? She was once involved with the heir to the Cassadine Empire.”
“Yeah, well it was obviously not a subject she wanted to bring up with her husband right next to her. Her husband also being the son of that drug sovereign.”
“Vanessa Cortlant.” Cannes nodded. “How about Caroline Corinthos? Former wife of mob boss?”
“She left before I could get anything.”
“So basically the only person you’ve got something to go on is Ms. Quartermaine.”
“Don’t point fingers so quickly. Like I said, they all have something to hide. They might reveal information if they’re all in the same room but I think I should handle each one personally.”
“You mean find out information on them one at a time.”
“Exactly. It’ll be less conspicuous.” He closed his eyes for approximately one second. “Whatever happened to the ship with all that crack?”
“We have people on it. But we do know that it was sent off from Manhattan. And there will be a few witnesses who are going to be on trial.”
“Then send me the names of all the witnesses. I’m going to let you go now, have all this information faxed to me by tomorrow—don’t worry, it’s a secured line.”
“Okay. Who’s going to be your target for tomorrow?”
“I don’t know, I was thinking about using the ‘inne, minne, miny, moe’ strategy,” he chuckled at his own lame joke, “I’ll go alphabetically.” He hung up the phone and walked over to the dresser, picking up a manilla envelope. He held up the envelope sideways and allowed the pictures to sloop onto the stand. Picking up the first picture that came out he thought to himself, “Caroline Corinthos, come on down.”
**Outside: The Sullivan Gardens**
“Since when am I ignorant?” Leo whined as he put his coat over Gia’s body while they walked around the infamous gardens.
“I was just teasing,” Gia elucidated.
“Well I must say that was a very convincing performance.”
“I always thought I’d be a good MTA.”
Leo looked at her with an odd expression. “MTA?”
“Model turned actress,” Gia clarified.
You look so fine
I want to break your heart
And give you mine
You're taking me over
It's so insane
You've got me tethered and chained
I hear your name
And I'm falling over
“Ah.” Leo shook his head and laughed. “But seriously, you had me convinced there. Of course you were all over me.”
Gia looked at him incredulously. “Holding your hand like a whiny little schoolboy does not count as a come on.”
“Uh-huh. Sure.”
I'm not like all the other girls
I can't take it like the other girls
I won't share it like the other girls
That you used to know
You look so fine
Knocked down
Cried out
Been down just to find out
I'm through
Bleeding for you
“You were pretty convincing yourself,” Gia admitted, “Of course you staggered a little. But you did come up with the whole ‘it was supposed to be a surprise’ thing. I didn’t think your sister-in-law would go along with it.”
“Yeah, me either. But Anna’s cool,” Leo stated, “When she wants to be that is.”
I'm open wide
I want to take you home
We'll waste some time
You're the only one for me
You look so fine
I'm like the desert tonight
Leave her behind
If you want to show me
Gia nodded her head and slid her arms through the sleeves of his coat as they continued to walk. “You know what’s funny,” Leo said, “Well its not funny. Just ironic.”
“What?” Gia asked.
“That when we came here our job was to pull off one happily married performance for your family. And now--.”
“We have to pull off two—for the sake of yours,” Gia completed.
“Hey what do you know? We’re already finishing---.”
“—Eachother’s sentences.” Gia laughed.
“This should stop. Next thing you know, you’ll be borrowing my toothbrush. And that honey is out of the question.” Gia lightly chuckled. They looked at eachother both with a huge sparkle in their eyes. Gia shook her head out of whatever thoughts she had of Leo naked and continued to walk ahead of him.
I'm not like all the other girls
I won't take it like the other girls
I won't fake it like the other girls
That you used to know
You're taking me over
Over and over
I'm falling over
Over and over
You're taking me over
He stood for a moment wondering why she walked away then ran up to catch up to her. “So what did Elizabeth mean when she said you had those two guys on the palm of your hand?”
Gia stopped walking and looked up at him with a smirk. “I refuse to answer that to a former gigolo.”
“Gigolo?” Leo said in an astonished tone. “That’s it your gonna get it.” He grabbed her by the waist and started to continuously tickle her.
Gia laughed in hysterics for a few seconds and then swatted his hand away. “Hey, hey. Not in this dress, buddy.” Once he stopped tickling her but kept his arms around her waist. They’re foreheads clinked together and Leo moved down for a slow sensuous kiss. They had kissed many times before but it was always out of the moment of torrid passion. This one was sweet and welcoming. “Leo,” Gia gently pulled back. He looked at her and immediately knew what she was going to say. Instead of countering, he nodded, “I understand,” he said softly as he took her hand and walked back to the manor.
Drown in me one more time
Hide inside me tonight
Do what you want to do
Just pretend happy end
Let me know let it show
Ending with letting go
Let's pretend, happy end
**You look so fine by Garbage