Series 13: Ties that bind (Continuation of Blood Lines)

[Corporate Paige]

If Dobson is still around, that means that Ethan is not far behind. I have a feeling that Alexis will be seeing him soon. I wonder when Blake will find out the truth about Jess and Ethan. Update soon!

[ss9]

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He was a beautiful baby and staring down at the sleeping child nestled contentedly in her arms Krystle Carrington felt a heart give a lurch. Now up close and a couple of days old and with the redness from birth faded a little it was possible to study his features a little more closely. There was certainly more than a little of Blake in this little boy’s face and for a moment it was almost possible to see a child that might have been….the baby that had been lost…no not lost…taken so cruelly due to the jealousy of one woman who couldn’t bear the thought of Blake having a child with anyone else.

Oh Blake might like to pretend that it had been an accident that Alexis had fired the shot that caused Krystle’s horse to bolt, that she hadn’t done it deliberately but had then chosen to lie about being out shooting to avoid being blamed for the accident. Only Krystle knew it had been no accident, knew deep in her bones that Alexis had done it deliberately.

All to keep her from giving Blake a child because Alexis couldn’t bear the idea of Krystle and Blake sharing that kind of a bond…the very bond that Alexis had always bragged would always keep Blake and her connected and Alexis hadn’t been wrong in that. The children had certainly kept Alexis tethered to Blake like some terrible sort of weight around his neck, always there interfering and meddling in their lives.

Krystle could still recall the unmistakable look of jealousy on Alexis’s face when Krystle had smugly announced her second pregnancy to her rival at LB’s birthday party, if looks could have killed Krystle would have dropped dead on the spot. Still Krystle had survived Alexis’s rage but her rival had gotten her revenge eventually, Alexis now had Blake back in her claws and had somehow managed to win Krystina’s affections as well.

Krystle wasn’t sure she could take another weekend like this last one. First that disastrous dinner when Blake had sprung Alexis on the family and Krystle had to watch that woman interacting and smiling at Krystina like she was her daughter. Yet as bad as that dinner had been it was nothing compared to what the weekend had left in store for her.

Just why did Krystina have to pick now to start being a difficult child? The only possible reason had to be Alexis…every time that woman pushed herself back into Krystle’s life she caused yet more damage and now Alexis was interfering with her relationship with Krystina.

Just thinking about breakfast only a few hours ago caused Krystle’s normally calm and serene temperament to spike and prickle with anger…

“….But Daddy promised!….Mummy you remember he promised at dinner…”

“Krystina I know your father promised to take you riding yesterday but that was before Jess went and had her baby, then we were at the hotel all night so your daddy was probably too tired and besides you have to go to school today.”

“Why? Danny doesn’t!” Krystina pouted pushing her breakfast around her bowl as she scowled down at the healthy breakfast of unsweetened cereal and fruit her mother had insisted on, only allowing her one tiny pancake and hardly any syrup. Danny even got to eat his breakfast in his room; he probably had gotten as many pancakes as he wanted.

“Danny has been suspended he is not on holiday, he will not be doing anything fun.” Krystle reminded her daughter, unable to hide her scowl as Krystina’s attitude grated on her already shredded nerves…something not helped by the tight feeling behind her eyes that had dogged her since waking this morning.

Still Krystle could understand her daughter’s disappointment; Blake had let her down once more. Only this time Krystle suspected it wasn’t business that was keeping Blake from his obligations as a father, and when Krystle caught up with him Blake Carrington was going to get a stark reminder of the facts from her.

“Besides I am sure your Father will make it up to you. Why don’t you ask him when he comes down?”

“I can’t do that.” Krystina remarked tartly her blue eyes narrowing on her mother who squirmed uncomfortably. “Daddy hasn’t been there since yesterday!”

“Krystina how do you know your Father…”

“Because the suit he wore to dinner was still lying on the bed when I checked this morning and his bed hadn’t been slept in so Daddy can’t be here…I am not stupid Mommy.” Krystina answered sharply her disrespectful tone too much for even Krystle to tolerate.

“That is enough Krystina, I understand you are upset but that is no reason to talk to me like this!”

“But …”

“Krystina stop it…just eat your breakfast.” Krystle added as she rubbed her aching forehead, unable to completely quell the flicker of worry that sprang up that this might be more than just a simple headache, before she quickly squashed that fear back down.

No it was just a headache, the medication was working, was it any wonder she had headache with the stress she was currently under?

“No I don’t like it!” Krystina retorted, dropping her spoon back into her bowl, not caring when it splashed milk all over the tablecloth.

“Krystina look at the mess you just made!” Krystle admonished her daughter her concern growing when instead of being suitably chastened her daughter merely shrugged her shoulders, reminiscent of another spoilt Carrington daughter Krystle remembered.

“It’s just milk.” Krystina replied coolly. “Jeanette or one of the other staff will clear it up.”

“Krystina Carrington…..” Krystle began her blue eyes flashing as she fought to control her temper. “You will clean it….”

“Daddy!”

Krystina’s excited squeal cut Krystle off mid rebuke and Krystle could only stare mutely as Krystina jumped up from her seat at the table and rushed to greet her father who gladly scooped his darling little daughter up into his arms.

“Well hello there Princess.” Blake greeted his daughter affectionately ruffling her long blonde hair as Krystina kissed his cheek.

“Daddy where have you been, you promised to take me riding remember?” Krystina demanded her blue eyes narrowing down on her father who squirmed uncomfortably under her scrutiny.

“I know Princess I’m sorry I was busy but perhaps I can pick you up from school today instead and then we can go riding?”

“Could you drop me at school as well?” Krystina’s excitement was palpable. Able to imagine the looks on her friend’s faces when she pulled up in her father’s limousine instead of the ugly boring station wagon her mother preferred to drive, at least it was a Mercedes but everyone at school had one of those, not everyone had a limousine!

“Well I suppose but I do have to quickly shower and change.”

“And then Krystina will be late for school!” Krystle cut in finally finding her voice as she scowled across at the scene in front of her. Just a few minutes before Krystina had been upset with her father and suddenly now he was here all was forgiven and Krystina was all smiles again whereas Krystle couldn’t seem to do anything right!

“Oh well then….” Blake began only to be cut off by his daughter

“Please take me Daddy I’ve missed you!”

“And I’ve missed you to Princess.” Blake replied guilt warring with concern. “Well I suppose if I am very quick then you won’t be more than a few minutes late and that can’t hurt anything...”

“Blake…” Krystle began warningly yet Krystina’s excited squeal as she flung her arms around her father’s neck put paid to any counter argument.

“Thank you….Thank you Daddy! I’ll go get my bag and wait in the car Daddy!” Krystina added before her mother could ruin everything, barely waiting until her father had set her back down before bounding out of the room, leaving behind her half eaten breakfast and the mess she had made before her mother could rebuke her further.

Clearly Blake had the same idea and Krystle practically had to stalk him up the staircase. “Blake…Blake!”

“Not now Krystle I am in a hurry you said yourself Krystina will be late and you wouldn’t want her to miss too much school!” Blake called back over his shoulder as he pushed open the door to his bedroom.

“She wouldn’t be missing any school if you weren’t trying to assuage your guilt about neglecting your daughter in favour of that….woman….” Krystle spat, not caring that Blake was retreating back to the sanctuary of his bedroom…the bedroom they once used to share.

“That woman happens to be the woman I love Krystle and she has a name.” Blake countered his eyes narrowing clearly uncomfortable with having Krystle in his bedroom but unwilling to make a scene about it as he moved to rummage in his wardrobe for an appropriate suit.

“Yes I am unfortunately aware of that Blake.” Krystle spat back, frowning in slight confusion as Blake pulled a suit out his extensive wardrobe…

Yet Blake hadn’t worn a suit, well apart from Amanda’s funeral, since he had been forced out of Denver Carrington. He certainly hadn’t needed to wear a suit to work in the library and since he and Dex hadn’t yet sorted out any offices yet…

The question was tripping off of her tongue before she could stop herself. “Where are you going today?”

Sighing loudly Blake laid out one of his favourite suits, the dark grey with a light grey pinstripe out on the bed before quickly finding a light blue shirt and darker blue tie that would complement and adding them to the growing pile.

“Not that it is any of your business Krystle but I am off to Colby Co…”

“Colby Co?” Krystle spluttered her sapphire blue eyes narrowing accusingly. “So what are you Alexis’s lackey at work as well now?”

“What I am doing at Colby Co is my business, now if you don’t mind Krystle would you please leave?” And this time there was no mistaking the warning tone in Blake’s voice or the way his gaze turned foreboding and unaccustomed to having that gaze turned on her Krystle shrunk back as if slapped.

Then since Blake clearly didn’t want her and Krystina preferred to spend time with her father Krystle had rushed off to the only other place she felt wanted and needed. Now sitting in Jess’s room cradling her darling little boy Krystle could try and calm her tumultuous feelings.

There was just something so grounding about holding a little baby…the world seemed so much brighter, so full of possibilities.

It had been so long since Krystina had been this little and had been completely dependent upon her as her mother for love and protection. Her little girl was growing up so fast and part of Krystle couldn’t help but wish she would stop, that she could be her little girl forever and not this wilful spoilt creature that seemed to be emerging despite Krystle’s best efforts.

Still as much as she wished he was, this baby wasn’t really hers to fuss over. Glancing up at the unusually quiet Jess Krystle shot the younger woman an encouraging smile. “So have you decided on a name yet?”

“No…I just can’t seem to think of anything…Nothing that seems to suit him.” Jess answered softly as her own blue eyes flickered over her son before she shifted uncomfortably as the baby began to fuss and cry in Krystle’s arms before shifting her gaze to the window.

“Oh well I am sure something will come to you.” Krystle replied politely squashing down her own surprise as the baby began to cry and Jess didn’t offer to take him.

Perhaps the poor thing was just so overwhelmed?

After all she was a young new mother and so Krystle resolved to do what she could to help, doing her best to sooth the small baby whose cries seemed to upset his mother.

That Jess didn’t even seem to have any ideas for her son’s name worried Krystle yet it was probably because the poor girl had thought she had plenty of time. After all until Krystina had actually been born Krystle had herself decided on the name Helen only to change her mind later on.

The soft knocking on the door drew Krystle back to the present and she smiled in relief as the door opened to reveal one of the nurse’s, bottle in hand.

“I think the little one is ready for this…” The nurse spoke with a smile as she turned to her young charge. “Here you go Jess it’s the right temperature.” The nurse added handing the bottle over to Jess who took it with a shy half smile but made no move to reach for her son.

“Well then you’d better have this little man back then.” Krystle added to cover the awkwardness, handing the grizzling baby back to his mother who handled him awkwardly, her relief palpable when the bottle managed to silence his cries.

The poor girl was so out of her depth it tugged at Krystle’s heart strings. She needed help and right then and there Krystle resolved to do whatever it took to help. Jess was family after all, even if Krystle was the only one who knew it. The poor girl had suffered so much already and she had no mother to help her….

That the fact it would mean the baby would also be around was simply an additional benefit.

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[Corporate Paige]

Krystle should talk to Jackson about Jess. She seems to have postpartum depression. She needs help. Thanks for the update. Update again soon!

[ss9]

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“You don’t have to do this now.”

Fiddling with her hair Alexis reached into her Dior purse for her compact, cursing when she accidentally pulled out her cigarette case instead. Setting it aside on the desktop Alexis rummaged some more before pulling it out. Flipping it open Alexis checked her reflection, removing the pad Alexis dabbed a little powder on her nose and then her chin and along her jaw line.

There now she looked ready to face the world….or more to the point the vultures of the Denver media. If only she felt as a ready as she looked, and Blake asking her if she was alright and reminding her she didn’t have to do this every few minutes wasn’t helping matters.

“I do and we both know it.” Alexis retorted curtly, punctuating her remark by snapping her compact shut and turning to face Blake as she tugged on the bottom of her suit jacket. The red should look good on camera; even if yellow was a more photogenic colour and the red made her look a little pale for Alexis’s tastes.

Perhaps going away this weekend was still a good idea, there was no way Blake was going to drop it and it was for his birthday.

Besides Alexis didn’t exactly loath the idea of getting out of Denver for a while. Not now the press would be dogging her every move. They probably already had the entrances to Colby Acres staked out by now. Blake wouldn’t be able to visit or she wouldn’t be able to go anywhere in Denver without the press harassing her. And god knows after the extraordinary DC board meeting was over one way or another Alexis would need to recuperate somewhere peaceful.

“Alexis did you hear me?”

“Of course Darling.” Alexis replied forcing a smile onto her face even as Blake frowned over his spectacles at her from his seat across the desk.

“Then what did I say?”

“You told me yet again I didn’t have to do this now Blake only we both know that I do…”

“Yes and then what did I say?” Blake replied setting down the papers he had been reading to give Alexis his full attention.

“You….said….Fine…” Alexis huffed stuffing her compact and cigarette case back into her purse and snapping it closed. “I admit I wasn’t really listening…honestly Blake I have enough on my mind right now you can’t expect me to pay attention to every little thing you say.”

“I said.” Blake replied his concern mounting as Alexis’s unusual distractedness merely convinced him how not ready she was for this press conference. “You look beautiful so stop fussing.”

“I look like a wreck.” Alexis retorted sharply yet she couldn’t completely smother her smile.

“If this is you looking like a wreck then I would hate to see you on a really bad day.” Blake tutted shaking his head as he took off his glasses and folded them up before slipping them into his breast pocket.

Easing his old bones out of his chair Blake checked his watch. They only had a few more minutes and Blake couldn’t shake the bad feeling he had about this but Alexis was nothing if not stubborn and Blake knew it was next to impossible to change her mind when she had made it up.

“Well then shall we?” Blake added offering Alexis his arm, relieved when she took him up on it, at least if something did go wrong Blake could be there to offer support.

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[Corporate Paige]

I can't wait to find out what happens next! Update soon!

[ss9]

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“Mrs Colby….Mrs Colby….Nick Parker Denver Chronicle…”

Nodding Alexis made a fist, her nails digging into the soft inside of her palm, the room was heaving there was certainly more than just local press here. There were even television cameras and Alexis felt her nerves bubble up causing her voice to sound throatier than usual. She had already delivered the prepared statement to the press naturally denying the accusations made in the press but now came the part Alexis had been dreading….throwing the floor open to questions from the press.

“Yes Mr Parker.”

“Mrs Colby you have given a statement denying the accusations levelled at yourself by the Australian press however there is no denying that you did meet Senator Roberts whilst you were in Australia, can you tell me was the relationship between the two of you cordial?…just how close did you get to the late Senator Mrs Colby?”

“The relationship between Senator Roberts and myself was cordial and strictly business, we met only a handful of times during the negotiations…” Alexis paused her eyes narrowing in contempt of the odious reporter who she remembered actual wrote for one of the gossip columns and not the regular news editorial. “There was certainly none of the smut you are obviously angling for Mr Parker.”

Then ignoring Mr Parker when he opened his mouth to reply Alexis quickly moved on to the next reporter with their hand up, a smartly attired woman that Alexis vaguely recognised as being from the local news station.

“Mrs Colby you have given us your side of the story but we cannot help but notice the absence of Mr Jeffery Colby at this press conference…Is that a deliberate omission? Can we assume that Mr Colby no longer speaks for Denver Carrington?”

“Mr Colby remains Denver Carrington’s CEO he is not here today because of a pressing personal commitment. Next question.” Alexis snapped deciding that the woman wasn’t that smartly dressed after all…that was definitely a fake Louis Vuitton down at her feet and on closer inspection it became obvious to Alexis’s critical eye that her face had suffered from an obvious lift.

“Gordon Wales World Finance Magazine.” A familiar sleazy voice called out and Alexis felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickle at the smug knowing look on Mr Wales face.

“Mrs Colby this is not the first time either yourself or Denver Carrington have been accused of corruption. Do you really expect the general public are so gullible as to believe you are entirely blameless in this affair?”

“I have given you my statement as to what happened Mr Wales now….”

“Only you left out a few key facts didn’t you Mrs Colby, for example you conveniently forgot to mention that you and Mr Colby were not alone in negotiating with Senator Roberts…in fact I have it on good authority that you hired the services of a consultant whilst you were in Australia.”

“Are you planning on asking a question Mr Wales or were you just planning on insinuating something unpleasant?” Alexis retorted yet as she caught sight of the triumphant gleam in Gordon Wales eye Alexis felt her confidence slip, just the mention even in passing of that man was enough to punch a hole in her carefully crafted armour, something that Wales seemed to have either the instinct to grasp or he had been tipped off….

No that was impossible…the only one who knew enough was Ethan himself and…just the thought of Ethan whispering certain secrets in Gordon Wales ear was enough to make Alexis’s blood run cold and her breath catch in her throat…No it couldn’t be true, after all for all his faults Gordon Wales was a good reporter one more than capable of digging up dirt all by himself, the little weasel seemed to have quite the talent for it.

“It is in the public interest to know Mrs Colby just exactly what services this consultant carried out on your behalf….where they professional…or, “ Gordon Wales paused dramatically his piggy eyes narrowing as his quarry shifted, “or where they personal as well?”

Swallowing down the bile that jumped to her throat Alexis had to resist the urge to reach out and take a swig from the water glass in front of her, knowing full well that her every movement and reaction was being watched, analysed and dissected.

“Denver Carrington hired a consultant to assist in interpreting the legal complications and pulling together the more than generous compensation package that was accepted by not only Senator Roberts but by the entire committee assigned to oversee the process. That was the extent and limit to their involvement!”

“With Denver Carrington or with yourself Mrs Colby? I understand the two of you spent considerable time together….all alone… ” Gordon Wales called out, clearly striking out for blood, something he achieved when Alexis visibly flinched. “Tell me did this consultant of yours agree to blackmail Senator Roberts for money or did you offer him a more personal reward for his efforts?”

Staggering back from the podium as if punched in the gut Alexis could barely stop her head from shaking as she reached out to grasp the edge to try and keep herself on her feet. A moment later she all but sagged as she felt Blake’s strong arm wrap around her waist all but holding her up.

A moment later Blake’s strong baritone barked out at the assembled press, “No more questions.”

“Oh Mr Carrington I am disappointed the public has the right to know what one of their leading citizens deems appropriate behaviour and I would have thought given your relationship with Mrs Colby you would be interested in just how she conducts her business.”

“Mrs Colby has delivered Denver Carrington’s statement.” Blake retorted his dark eyes narrowing in disgust on Gordon Wales smug face. “She deigned to answer additional questions not to listen you sling slander and ridiculous accusations around Mr Wales.”

“Oh they aren’t as ridiculous as you or Mrs Colby would like us to believe and if Mrs Colby won’t tell us the truth then I know someone who will.” Gordon Wales pronounced smugly and Blake felt Alexis tense in his arms as the doors to the room suddenly opened as if timed to perfection and in strode a handsome, well-dressed man who Blake would had guessed to be in his mid-forties. Yet it was his eyes that drew Blake, as dark as his own they appeared slightly hooded and dangerous, like a predators and they locked with Blake’s for a moment before sweeping across to lock with Alexis’s.

Shaking even as Blake’s grip on her tightened Alexis felt powerless to move, her horror growing as her worst nightmare seemed to take on flesh and step out in daylight. Then it had the nerve to smirk at her, those familiar and yet unfamiliar dark eyes glinting sadistically.

“Hello Alexis.”

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[Corporate Paige]

I feel so bad for Alexis, but so happy that Blake is face-to-face with Ethan finally! So worth waiting for!

[Corporate Paige]

I would love to see an update on this story! Please continue this soon! You're very talented and I'm hooked on this story and series.

[missyj]

it's gone very quiet on the stories here and on fanfiction.net.

[ss9]

Sorry I've taken a break from writing for a bit as I have been getting ready to move to a new job and have been busy recruiting staff for that job whilst wrapping up all my projects from my current one. I will get back to it after Easter I promise. ta ta for now ss9