Employees of Worldwide Industries moved throughout the corporate headquarters with an added enthusiasm. Many of them were longtime employees of its president, and, as a result were ecstatic about the early morning's developments.

Stefan Cassadine observed their mood as he strode toward the large office that was the heart of not only the building but the company as well. Immediately upon crossing into the plush office, he was engulfed in an enormous embrace.

“Darling!” Lucinda Walsh cried, kissing the bemused mogul on both cheeks. “What a marvelous, magnificent morning! Have you seen today's paper?”

“I casually perused the New York morning paper during the ride in. I have not seen local headlines. Exactly what is it that has you so pleased?”

Lucinda placed a copy of the City Times' morning newspaper into Stefan's outstretched hand. He reached into the breast pocket of his suit coat and pulled out the small wire-framed glasses he used for reading. “Walsh and Associates File for Bankruptcy,” Stefan read aloud. “I believe this is the company stolen from you by the young Walsh sister and brother team?”

“Oh, yes, darling!” Lucinda gaily twirled a rose from the arrangement on her desk. “Connor and Evan Walsh have succeeded in running it into the ground. Walsh and Associates is ruined.”

Stefan peered over the glasses at her. “You are not distressed about the demise of a company you once worked so hard to build?”

Lucinda sobered before replying. “There are many families that will be affected by this. They are my only reason for pause.” Her face hardened. “The young Walshes have received exactly what they deserve.”

“True. I doubt they will find themselves in positions of leadership any time in the near future.” Casually Stefan took a seat on Lucinda's leather couch. He crossed his legs and smiled knowingly at his dear friend. “You needn't worry about the families,” he remarked offhand. “I intend to keep most of the current employees on.”

Lucinda prided herself on her resources. Her ability to remain in the know had enabled her ascent to her current level of success. Nonetheless, she was floored by what Stefan's declaration implied. “It was you?”

A nearly imperceptible nod of his head was Stefan's confirmation. He waited until Lucinda made her way shakily to where he sat. “Did I not promise that the people who betrayed your trust those years ago would someday pay in kind?” He placed his hand gently atop Lucinda's. “I am a man of my word.”

Each of the past five mornings Jessica Griffin had negotiated the twists and turns of this particular passage with an equal measure of dread and anticipation. For at the end of the passageway was Lucinda Walsh's office. And Stefan Cassadine.

He had been Lucinda's constant companion at the offices of Worldwide Industries that week. Yet other than several occasions when Jessica had looked up from her paperwork to spy Stefan gazing at her through half-lidded eyes, their encounters had not been an issue. Why that disappointed her, Jessica chose not to examine.

“Good afternoon.” Jessica walked in on a celebration. Lucinda sat on the office couch and sipped champagne with an attentive Stefan Cassadine. That there was a celebration came as no surprise to Jessica. She had read the morning's news of Walsh & Associates' downfall. What did surprise her was how low-keyed and very un-Lucinda-like the celebration was.

“Join us, darling!” Lucinda cried as soon as she spotted the attorney. She raised her glass jauntily. “For this very special occasion, I have opened a bottle of Roederer Cristal.”

“No thank you, Lucinda,” Jessica demurred. “What happened to Walsh and Associates really isn't a cause for celebration. I have friends and clients there.”

“So have I.” Lucinda directed Stefan to pour the beautiful attorney a glass of champagne. “But I've been assured that the jobs of the employees are safe. It is the glorious and very public downfall of the Walsh siblings that I am toasting.”

Distracted, Jessica accepted the glass Stefan proffered. She ignored the electric sensation of his fingers as they made contact with hers. “You've been assured? By who?”

“My hero,” Lucinda replied and tilted her glass in tribute. "Herr Cassadine."

Jessica excused herself from their celebration after a few sips of the vintage champagne and a quick conversation with Lucinda Walsh. She moved to the far corner of the room and began finalizing a series of legal documents concerning Lucinda's personal interests. Lucinda and Stefan continued to partake of the champagne, and in time seemed to forget about her presence.

Jessica laid down her legal documents and watched them celebrate. They were like players in some larger than life drama. Lucinda Walsh was the very unlikely damsel in distress, while Stefan Cassadine epitomized the flawed but noble hero. According to Lucinda, she had no idea that Stefan had engineered the destruction of Connor and Evan Walsh, and by association their company. His grudging admittance of his part in the coup had caught her by complete surprise.

Jessica was equally stunned. On so many levels.

She should have been accustomed to such things by now. After all, she handled the business affairs of several multi-millionaires on a daily basis. She had been married to one.

But for all her experience, Jessica remained awed. Stefan Cassadine spoke so casually of the kind of power it took to cripple a solid company like Walsh & Associates. The fact that he accomplished it without a breath of rumor leaking out only added to the wonder.

On one hand, Jess was saddened by the fates of Connor and Evan Walsh. She hadn't approved of their actions in befriending Lucinda before stealing her company, but she didn't wish the type of public downfall they were experiencing on anyone.

But on the other hand, Stefan Cassadine had managed to surprise her once more. Over five years had passed since the takeover of Walsh and Associates. As an attorney, Jessica knew the enormous details involved in such a major action. Obviously Stefan had planned their downfall with a surgeon's precision and then moved heaven and earth to make it so. All because of a promise to a friend. A casual remark Lucinda had long forgotten.

‘Perhaps,' Jessica thought wryly, ‘I should be worried.”

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