The Bed You Make
Chapter 5
For the fifth time in as many minutes, Alexis stilled her foot from tapping out a nervous rhythm beneath the table. She took a deep breath and tried to look casual. As casual, she admitted, as one could look while peering anxiously at the entrance from the corner of her eye.
The sights and sounds of the Outback were lost on Alexis. She was deaf to the subdued buzz of conversation among the other customers. The tantalizing aromas emanating from the restaurant's kitchen wafted past her unnoticed. All her senses were attuned to one thing – Nikolas' arrival. Her nephew had extended an olive branch her way. Alexis hoped that it would be the first step toward repairing her fractured relationship with Stefan.
Alexis had no illusions that Stefan would be as forgiving as Nikolas. The most she could hope for was that her brother's inability to deny Nikolas would eventually translate into a return to the family fold.
She'd known, when she failed to alert Stefan to Sonny's plans against Cassadine Industries, that she would bear the brunt of her brother's anger. Alexis' protestations of lawyer-client privilege failed to sway Stefan at all.
A flash of movement at the Outback's front door drew her attention just as Nikolas stepped inside. Alexis abandoned any pretense of calm and allowed a broad smile to grace her countenance. “Nikolas!” Alexis raised her hand and beckoned to him. “Over here…”
Her intended greeting died in Alexis' throat. Nikolas was not alone. Stefan stepped into the Outback accompanied by fellow attorney Dara Jensen.
Alexis' thoughts whirled as she tried to process the sight. Dara's presence could only mean that Stefan had begun courting the popular attorney in a quest to find a new lawyer to handle the public legal affairs of Cassadine Industries. Dara was, apparently, Stefan's choice to replace Alexis in the handling of their Port Charles business. And bringing her to the Outback that way was a very clear message to Alexis that Stefan had not begun to forgive her for her part in Sonny's nearly successful corporate raid of their family's businesses.
“Good evening, Alexis.” Nikolas kissed his aunt's cheek. He did not miss the way she stared at Stefan and Dara. “I am glad you could be here to celebrate this joyous family occasion.”
