The Bed You Make
Chapter 48, continued
"...And then Helena won the Nobel Prize for her work with lepers."
Alexis' conversation went right over Nikolas' head. He was distracted by the phone call he'd received from Dara earlier. After a beat, though, Nikolas looked up at his aunt. Her words had just sunk in. They were so ludicrous that it finally caught the young Prince's attention enough to draw him from his musings. "What?"
"Ridiculous, I know," Alexis replied. "But that's what it took to get your attention." She frowned at Nikolas. "What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry," Nikolas winced. "I was...distracted."
"Yes. And you've been distracted since that call. Oh, don't worry," Alexis hastened to say. "I won't ask you again what's going on. Just tell me this... Is Stefan all right?" Her voice was soft and hesitant. Her last conversation with her brother had been a one-sided discourse about her legal maneuverings on Sonny's behalf. Stefan had made it clear then that he was no longer to be her concern - in any way.
"Is he all right?" Nikolas got a curious expression on his face. "I don't know how to answer that," he grinned faintly, thinking of Dara's tone on the phone. "He is certainly in no physical danger." Despite his love for his aunt Alexis, Nikolas had no desire to discuss with her the subject of Stefan, Dara, or their unexpected, ever-surprising marriage. "But we didn't come to discuss Uncle," Nikolas deftly rerouted the conversation. "We have had a nice meal. Shall we order dessert?"
Alexis sadly shook her head. Nikolas felt a pang that she was hurt by his unwillingness to share what was going on within the family, but he knew that his uncle's sense of betrayal by Alexis was still too fresh. He would not appreciate Nikolas discussing his private affairs without his permission. "Well, if you don't want dessert, then I'll have Ivan drive you back to your office."
"I don't want to inconvenience you."
Nikolas gave his aunt a brief embrace. "You won't be. There are some matters I can attend to while I await Ivan's return."
As soon as Alexis cleared the exit, Nikolas began to thumb through the limited number of contacts stored in his smart phone. The phone number he was searching for had only recently been programmed into his phone. Nikolas touched the screen and his call was soon connected. "Hello?"
"Well, well..." an amused male voice drawled by way of greeting. " It certainly is a time for family. I have achieved the trifecta."
"I'm sorry?"
"Pay no attention to me and let us start again. Hello, little Prince."
"Hello, Chef Philip." Nikolas paid no attention to his cousin's nickname for him. As far back as he could recall, the grating moniker had been used by him. When Nikolas made his thirteenth birthday, he politely requested that Philip simply address him as Nikolas or The Prince. The blond, sharp-tongued older man nodded gravely and replied, "As you'd like, Little Prince."
Philip chuckled. "Since I don't believe in coincidences, I'm going to assume you called about Stefan and the mess he is making of this chance he has for something good for himself."
"What has Uncle done?"
"He has been his most...self...I'm afraid. Always observing, always testing... But I do think he has met his match with the woman he married."
Nikolas gave a half-smile, glad that Philip could not see the expression on his face. "I am counting on that."
