"The Course of True Love..." Part Seven

"The course of true love never did run smooth." William Shakespeare    

It is one week after Katherine moved out of the guesthouse and into an 
apartment. She has not told Luke that she caught Stefan and Laura kissing. Jerry 
Jax and Nikolas have been keeping tabs on Katherine by calling her and inviting 
her for dinners and lunches. Katherine has decided to throw herself into her 
work at Deception, but has avoided going to GH to do any PR work. Stefan has 
tried calling her, but she refuses to speak to him.

Helena is in her living room with Ari. They are preparing to eat breakfast, and 
Helena is looking forward to a day of "entertainment" with Ari.

H: So, has there been any word? Has the Bell woman been to see Luke, yet?

A: No, Madame. She has been keeping company with one Jerry Jax and Master 
Nikolas, since leaving the island.

H: Damn! I can't believe that little wench! She fell for every other trap I set 
for her. This is not like her. (Thinking) Well, no matter. If she won't go to 
him, I'll get him to go to her. As abrasive as he is, if he confronts her, she 
won't be able to resist telling him. 

Helena looks smug and then leers at Ari.

A: Would Madame like me to locate Mr. Spencer?

She looks agitated at the thought of her whole day needing to be rearranged.

H: Yes, I might as well get it over with. (Sexily) But tonight, we shall have 
something to celebrate.

Later on that day, Katherine is at her desk at Deception. The phone rings.

K: Katherine Bell.

J: Lois! How are you today? Did you stay awake until the end of "Young 
Frankenstein"?

K: I tried, but I was tired. I think I fell asleep before nine.

J: (jokingly) What are you… twelve? 

K: (amused) Is there a point to this call?

J: Yes. I need you to have dinner with me at the PC Grille.

K: You *need* me to have dinner with you? 

J: Oh, all right. It is more of a want than a need. So, I'll pick you up at 
seven.

K: (grinning) Wait, wait, wait. I didn't say I'd go with you. How do you know I 
don't already have a date?

J: (slightly disappointed) Do you? Is it Nikolas? (Suddenly concerned) It's not 
what's-his-name is it? Because I really don't think that would…

K: (still amused) Boy, you "men of steel" are nosy. No, it's not Nikolas or 
Stefan. 

J: So, will you have dinner with me?

K: (pretending to "give in") Oh, I suppose… It's better than cooking.

J: I'll take that as a complement. (Hopefully) Hey, maybe someday having dinner 
with me will rate "better than sex".

K: (laughing) It'd have to be a five star restraint, and you'd have to dress a 
lot better than you do.

J: (feigning hurt feelings) Hey! You just haven't seen me in my tights and cape.

K: (sarcastically) I can hardly wait. 

Luke enters her office, followed by the secretary looking at Katherine as if to 
say, "I tried to stop him." Katherine waves her out of the office. Meanwhile, 
Luke has sat down and put his feet on her desk.

K: Well, I gotta go. I'll see you tonight. 

J: O.K. I'll pick you up at seven.

Katherine hangs up the phone, and without a word walks around her desk, grabs 
Luke's feet, and lets them drop to the floor.

L: Katy Bell, how are you? I heard you (stands up quickly) escaped from "Gloom 
and Doom Island"(reaches to push her hair away from her neck) thought I'd come 
over and see how many fang marks you have.

Katherine slaps his hand away, then moves away from him. They are facing each 
other.

K: (annoyed) Stay away from me. Is there a reason for you're being here?

L: (smugly) Why Katy, I'm hurt. I came all this way to be sure you're not down a 
quart, or ready to throw yourself off a building, and this is the thanks I get?

K: If I were going to throw myself off a building - the only reason you'd be 
there is to be sure it was high enough, and that I wouldn't land on your car.

L: (surprised) Wow. That was a good one. I think your IQ is increasing. My God, 
if you stay away from the Count long enough, you just might win the Nobel Prize 
someday…(shaking his head) Nah!

K: If there is no point to this, I'll call security.

L: (seriously) Oh, there's a point little lady. I need to know why you left Goon 
Island the night you did.

Katherine is trying not to show Luke the hurt she is feeling. She remembers 
Stefan and Laura kissing. She becomes angry. She wants to scream what she saw to 
Luke, but focuses on Nikolas.

K: (angrily) THAT is none of your damn business!

L: (leading) But if the reason you left is because you saw something that upset 
you…

K: Why don't you just say what you have to say… I'm not in the mood to "dance" 
around whatever issues you may have.

L: Alright, Blondie… I heard a vicious rumor that my wife was with the Count. 
You saw it and that's why you split. Correct?

K: Really? So, shouldn't you be having this conversation with your wife? AND I 
thought you had Stefan watched at all times, so why don't you go ask your little 
spies, and leave ME alone.

L: Well, Katy I did both of those things. My employees said they did see a woman 
go to the island, maybe my wife maybe not. My wife said she was there to see 
Nikolas. Now, Vlad won't let me near the little whelp from hell, so I have to 
ask you. (Almost sincerely) Come on Katy… there's a lot at stake here. 

K: (seething) The reasons I left are many, and none of them are any of you’re 
business.

Luke looks into her eyes, searching to see if she is hiding something. 

L: Blondie, if you saw something… I can't believe you'd let him get away with 
something like that.

K: (angrily) If you think you know me so well, tell me… what would I have done, 
IF I had seen what you're implying?

L: (thoughtfully) The Katy Bell I know would have run straight to me, all teary 
eyed and more than happy to announce it to me, and anyone else who might be 
willing to listen.

K: I left Spoon Island a *week* ago, and YOU had to come to ME. (Annoyed) Where 
did you get your information in the first place? I realize you think I'm a very 
dim bulb, but you may want to consider the source.

L: (almost convinced) Yeah... You're right. Well, little lady… Sorry to bother 
you.

K: Just leave (pointing to the door). And don't bother me again. 
Luke walks up to Katherine, and lifts her chin with his bent index finger.

L: (coyly) But Katy, how else am I going to get my semiannual fix of looking 
into your delightful baby blues?

She shoves him toward the door.

K: I'll send you a picture. (As she starts to close the door)  Good-bye!

L: (as the door is closing) I wouldn't mind if you were naked in those pictures!

Katherine is leaning against the door and locking it.

K: (yelling) PIG!

She leans with her back to the door, then walks to her desk and sits down. 
Sorrow over takes her again. Tears begin to roll down her cheeks. She quickly 
wipes them away, and tries to shake off the sad feeling.

K: I'm doing this for Nikolas. 

It is about 4pm. Helena is waiting in her living room with Alexis.

A: What is this about? I really do have work to do.

H: Patience my child. 

At that moment a smiling Ari arrives with his arms around a squirming Katherine. 
She has a black sack over her head.

K: (angry) LET ME GO!

Ari removes the sack, and jumps back quickly to avoid Katherine's fist, which 
she lets fly at his face.

Ari: (happily) She is feisty, this one.

H: I hope she didn't give you too much trouble.

Ari: (gazing at Katherine) Nothing I couldn't handle.

K: What is going on? Why did you have me brought here? 

H: All in good time, my dear Katherine. Would you like some tea?

K: (snidely) No, I've heard about the dangers of eating and drinking with you.

Helena waves ARI out of the room. All of the women are too preoccupied to 
notice, but Ari is still smiling and looking at Katherine, undressing her with 
his eyes. Katherine and Alexis exchange glances. Alexis is hoping that, for 
once, Katherine will work with her to foil whatever plan Helena has. Katherine 
is wishing she never involved herself with the Cassadines in the first place.

H: Oh, well then suit yourself. I guess we should dispense with the rest of the 
pleasantries, and get to the business at hand.

K: Good.

A: I know I'd like to get on with this, so I can get back to work.

H: The reason I brought you both here is because I had very specific plans. To 
get Stefan thinking about Laura… he always was a sentimental fool… I sent a 
dress to you… I believe you saw the same one in the painting? 

Katherine is trying not to reveal anything, trying to stay ahead of Helena. She 
and Alexis both figure it has something to do with her NOT telling Luke about 
what she saw. Helena looks between both women, then continues.

H: That and other items were to culminate in you finding him with her. Now, here 
is where my plan fell apart. You were supposed to run to Luke and tell him what 
you saw. You didn't. Why?

K: How do you know what I saw? How do you know I didn't have a fight with Stefan 
about… the flower arrangements? How do you know he didn't see me being rude to 
Mrs. Landsbury and…

H: HA! Come now Katherine, we both know why you left. Why didn't you tell Luke? 
You were even presented with the opportunity earlier today. You didn't. I want 
to know why. Was it that Jax fellow? The one you went home with that night… like 
the common whore that you are.

K: (angrily) HOW DARE YOU have me followed. Where I go and who I am with is none 
of your business!

H: (snidely) Do you really think I care about the comings and goings of Stefan's 
mistress? I wanted to know the minute you told Luke, so I could get a good view 
of him killing Stefan.

Alexis and Katherine are both slightly shocked at Helena actually saying that. 
They knew what her plan was, but to hear it voiced with such venom by Stefan's 
mother. The woman who was supposed to love him.

K: (sarcastically) So sorry to disappoint you. Why is Alexis here?

Alexis looks at Katherine as if to say, "Did you have to bring me into this?"

H: Ah, Yes, Alexis. She came to visit you at your office the next morning. 
(Looking at Alexis) It was a valiant effort to try to avoid being seen, but I 
have eyes everywhere. What did Alexis say to you? Hmmm? Did she in anyway 
convince you not to tell Luke?

Katherine studies Helena and Alexis for a moment. She realizes what she says 
could seriously hurt Alexis. Even though she'd like to see Alexis suffer even 
more than she has for all of the meddling she did, she decides to give it her 
best lie.

K: (matter of factly, but seething) Alexis came to my office to laugh in my 
face. Said it served me right to lose Stefan, that I was nothing but a gold-
digging little trollop. She was glad that some one in your family was finally 
able to put an end to us.

A: (even toned) Yes, I told her she would never be worthy of a Cassadine, and 
that I hoped this would finally put an end to her preying on Stefan's vulnerable 
side.

H: (almost persuaded) Really? Katherine, what did you say?	

K: I told her to, "get out of my office". That I was through with Stefan, and I 
wanted nothing more to do with him. And now I'm going to tell you something 
Helena… I am finished with Cassadines. I want you to stop having me followed, 
because you will not learn anything from me, nor will you be able to use me to 
hurt Stefan or Nikolas.

H: About Nikolas… you're still seeing him, aren't you?

K: (with quiet resolve) Yes, but if it means you will continue to use me, that 
can be changed easily enough.

H: (surprised) You would give up his friendship?

K: (looking at Alexis) I've done it before, and I will, reluctantly, do it 
again.

H: Well, I think if you are willing to stop seeing Nikolas, then… Yes, I will 
stop having you followed, but if you start seeing him again…

K: I can only promise you I will do my part to stay away from him. He is a 
strong willed person, if HE won't stop seeing me…

H: You'll just have to convince him other wise. ARI!!

Ari reenters the room. Alexis and Katherine both back toward the door. Katherine 
catches Ari's attention and gives him a sexy smile. He smiles back, and 
continues to smile. Helena doesn't notice, she is looking at Alexis.

A: Helena, don't bother with Ari. I can give Katherine a ride.

K: (sarcastically) Oh, don't go out of your way for me.

A: (forced) It's not a problem. 

They both turn to leave, Katherine is in front of Alexis. Katherine stops, turns 
and looks at Helena.

K: Oh, by the way, you may want to give your little stud muffin a lesson in 
where and how to put his hands on a woman when he's kidnapping her. I almost 
misconstrued his intentions.

H: (aggravated) Ari would never rape…

K: (looking at Helena) I'm not talkin' about rape. (Looking, grinning, and 
winking at a still smiling Ari, then back to Helena) I'm talkin' about foreplay.

With that she and Alexis turn and leave quickly. Helena finally notices the 
inane smile on Ari's face. As the door closes Katherine and Alexis can hear 
Helena yelling at Ari.

H: WHAT WERE YOU DOING WITH THAT LITTLE TRAMP?!?

Ari: Nothing Madame, I swear!

As Alexis and Katherine walk quickly toward the car, Alexis shoots Katherine a 
glance.

K: What? As if she's the only one around here that can ruin a relationship? 

A: You may have put him in danger. She might have him killed for that.

K: Are you saying you don't think *death* for that poor man, would be better 
than having to have *sex* with her?

After a moment of consideration, Alexis reluctantly nods her head in agreement.