Losing Balance
by Lionel

chapter 6

Two days later, Lorenzo sat in his office, frustration mounting. Despite his formidable efforts, tensions on the Indonesian project had flared out of control and it had been called off at the last minute. Aftershocks of the disaster were still reaching his desk. Lorenzo worked the phones all morning trying to do damage control with the Indonesians, his people in Asia and his American partners. His new legal team, which he had put in place earlier in the year after finding Luis's lawyers hopelessly compromised, was being less than ineffectual. They were maddeningly officious and reactive, and he knew they would have to be replaced soon.

Lorenzo's mind wandered to thoughts of Alexis, and he imagined her sitting next to him at a bargaining table, arguing his cause with the same belief and passion she had flashed when fending off Taggert's illegal search. It was an enticing image, and he allowed his mind to follow the fantasy further. They would sit side by side, legs brushing under the table perhaps, but concealing from everyone else in the room their intimate connection. He would watch with feigned dispassion as she wielded all the weapons in her legal arsenal against her unsuspecting opponent -- first intimidating her opponent with the elegant arrogance of the well-born, then catching him by surprise with her legal acumen and quick mind and conviction, and mixing it all with a hint of flattery and just enough seduction to leave her victim unaware of how thoroughly he had been manipulated. Lorenzo would speak up occasionally to provide a final word on business matters, but for the most part he would just watch her work, and enjoy the building tension in his belly and the subtle signs that gave her away - her dry lips, her crossed legs, and the flush of the skin below her neck where her shirt opened in a V. When at last the business was concluded and the visitors ushered out, they would embrace feverishly, touching every place at once.

Lorenzo had not seen or spoken to Alexis since the incident with Sonny in the hospital. His guards provided regular updates, though, and he knew that Alexis and Kristina were settled into the lake house with Jax. Lorenzo had called her several times, but she never answered the phone and never returned the messages he left. Lorenzo was willing to bide his time. He had things to sort out himself, including his lingering guilt about the fantasies he had begun to harbor, and he needed to figure out for himself where he was willing to take this pursuit. He knew he wanted to get Alexis in bed - he had from the moment he felt her body react to him as he carried her up the basement stairs - but he wanted more than that, too, and he didn't yet know how to make that happen.

His reverie was interrupted by his assistant's voice over the intercom: "Luke Spencer here to see you, sir."

"Send him in." The office door opened and Luke appeared in the doorway. "Lucas Lorenzo Spencer, in the flesh," Lorenzo acknowledged with a grin. He leaned back in his chair.

"Don't get up, Lorenzo," Luke waved sarcastically, taking a seat in one of the oversized leather armchairs across from the desk.

"I thought I'd run into you sooner, Luke. Port Charles is a small town, and I understand that Carly Corinthos is your niece. Cigar?" Lorenzo offered.

Luke took a cigar from the offered box and stuffed it in his mouth, then reached back for three more and shoved them in his shirt pocket. "Oh, I try not to think about that, Lorenzo. I stay out of her business. It's good practice."

"So I've learned," Lorenzo said with a finality that made it clear the topic of Carly Corinthos was of no further interest to him. "What brings you by then, Luke? Come to pay your debt?"

"No, you know better than that," Luke smiled. "I'm here, Lorenzo, because I heard something very interesting. About you. The word on the street is that you've been asking lots of questions about Alexis Davis and paying all kinds of money for the kind of information that you can't get at the library."

"And you're looking to get in on the action, Luke?" Lorenzo asked, eyebrow raised. "What do you know about Ms. Davis?"

"Oh, I know all kinds of things about Ms. Davis. Natasha is something of a hobby of mine," Luke said carefully. "One thing I know is that she killed your brother. Is that why you're asking questions about her?"

Lorenzo considered his response carefully. He wasn't sure what Luke's angle was, but it was always a safe bet that Luke knew something worth finding out. "It is and it isn't," he answered finally. "I don't intend to do her any harm, if that's what you're asking."

"Why not? I mean, don't you have a score to settle? Isn't it your duty as an Alcazar to avenge your brother's death?" Luke prodded.

"I suppose it is," Lorenzo answered casually. "Some might think I have failed my brother, my family. But any score between Ms. Davis and myself has been settled. She saved my life a few days ago."

"She did, did she?" said Luke, his interest piqued. "That's my girl. So why all the digging then?"

Lorenzo hesitated. "Maybe to help me make peace with my brother's death and my decision not to seek compensation. I've had months now to seek revenge, to do something about the woman who killed Luis and walked away, but I was reluctant. And now I will live without that revenge. I have an idea that revenge against Ms. Davis would have been inappropriate. It will be easier for me to live with my brotherly failure if I can confirm that."

Luke nodded. "So you want to know if she was really crazy?"

"Do you think she was?" Lorenzo was curious about how well Luke really knew Alexis.

Luke shrugged his shoulders. "She's a Cassadine. They're all crazy. And Natasha has more reason than most of them to be stark raving mad."

"Crazy or not, I don't think she was legally insane when she killed my brother. She admitted as much to me." Lorenzo visualized himself throwing down a high card. He wanted to show the strength of his hand and gauge Luke's reaction.

"That's a dangerous admission." Luke gave away nothing.

Lorenzo nodded, pleased that Luke hadn't become sloppy. "She told me that my brother's death was an accident. That he attacked her, they struggled and he lost his balance and fell. I find that plausible, but I don't know Ms. Davis well enough to take her word for it. Do you?"

Luke ignored the question. "I think you're selling me a load of bull, Lorenzo. The questions you've been asking about Ms. Davis go way beyond detective work. You're looking in every dark corner of her life - friends, lovers, all the way back to Greece. That's how I got wind of your little quest."

"I like to be thorough," Lorenzo smirked.

"I'll ask you again. What do you want with Alexis?" Luke asked firmly.

Lorenzo took note of the protectiveness in Luke's tone and feigned surrender. "Okay, Luke. You're right. I'm doing more than checking out her story. The truth is I find Ms. Davis . . . intriguing. I had an idea in my head about who she was, and now I know I was wrong. The woman I saw when she saved my life was a revelation to me. I trusted too much in appearances; I listened too well to people who hate her. And now that I've seen under the façade she presents to the world, I'm curious."

"And?" asked Luke, certain there was more. "You've got the hots for her?"

"And I'm considering seeking her legal services. I get the distinct impression that Ms. Davis is a very good person to have on your side in a fight."

"Well, you're right about that," Luke replied. "She is a good person to have on your side in a fight. But Ms. Davis is all façade."

Luke was being maddeningly evasive. "You seem quite fond of Ms. Davis, Luke. I thought you hated Cassadines."

"I do. But I make an exception for Natasha. We have certain things in common - like a burning hatred of Helena Cassadine. And she's got style. And great legs," Luke added with a lascivious grin.

"What exactly is your relationship with Ms. Davis, Luke?" Lorenzo was feeling a little testy.

"Exactly? Oh, that's hard to say. Let's see. She's my lawyer. Sometimes. We're friends, of a sort. Not the kind of friends who borrow clothes or do girl talk. The kind of friends who'll get you out of a real tight spot. And I helped her find Natasha. I'm kind of proud of that."

Lorenzo's patience was wearing thin. "What the hell are you talking about, Luke? Who is Natasha?" He knew Luke was toying with him, but he desperately wanted the answer.

"You don't know?" Luke teased.

"I thought it was just your childish nickname for Ms. Davis. Is it more?"

"Your investigators didn't get very far, did they?" Luke savored his advantage.

"They've had some trouble in Greece," Lorenzo conceded. "Tell me who Natasha is."

"Oh, I think you'd better ask Alexis. If you like the girl, Lorenzo, just ask her out on a date and let her tell you about herself. What are you going to talk about over breakfast if you read up on her life story?"

"That's not what this is about, Luke. I'm not trying to find out her favorite flowers and champagne so I can impress her. I'm trying to find out if she is someone I can afford to allow in my life -- as a lawyer. I have a complicated life and I need to be cautious."

"Maybe," Luke nodded. "But if you're also looking for a leg up with the beautiful Ms. Davis, be forewarned that she doesn't take well to controlling men."

"What do you know about her tastes in men?" Lorenzo asked, challenge leaking into his voice.

"I'm observant, Lorenzo. No, Natasha and I never hooked up, as the kids say. I'm not her type. Not pretty enough."

"Her loss, I'm sure." Lorenzo smiled humorlessly. "And what is her type? Ned Ashton? Jasper Jacks? Corinthos?" Lorenzo spat out the last name.

"Beats me. Like I said, we're not big on the girl talk. She's not with any of them though, so I guess not." Luke paused. "Listen. I'm not going to spill Alexis's guts for you, but I can tell you a few things. Whatever you think you know about Alexis, you're at least half wrong. You think you've seen under the façade? You think you've seen another side of her? There are at least a half dozen more. She's easily the most complicated woman I've ever known. And she's been through hell. A lot of people around here like to complain about their childhood. I used to. But I don't anymore. I just think about the fact that she made it out alive and with her sense of humanity basically intact, and I shut up. Hell, when she first came to Port Charles she even had a sense of humor, a bounce in her step. But the last few years have stripped it away. Too many funerals, too many betrayals, too many fights with her back against the wall. If she isn't crazy, if she hasn't split into a thousand little pieces, it's only because there's some kind of unimaginable steel running through that graceful spine. In the only way that matters, she's royalty." Luke caught his breath. "And I consider it my privilege to play some small part in protecting that."

Lorenzo listened intently, expressionless. "Are you trying to scare me off, Luke?"

"Just trying to make you a little better informed, Lorenzo. I know you'll do what you want to do. But if you're going to run scared, better now than later. She doesn't need your kind of trouble, Lorenzo. But she may need your kind of help. As I recall, you're a pretty good guy to have on your side in a fight, too. And I don't think Alexis is done fighting."

Lorenzo sat quietly, absorbing Luke's words. After a moment he spoke. "Thank you. For the advice and the warning. I will be careful with Ms. Davis. For her sake as well as my own." Lorenzo stood up and walked to the door. "Will you help me with Greece, Luke? With Natasha? I have volumes of information about Alexis Davis in Port Charles, but Greece is nothing but dead ends."

Luke shook his head. "No. You're going to have to get that part of the story from Alexis. If she'll talk to you."

"Very well," Lorenzo conceded. "Someone will be over to your club later today with a token of my appreciation."

"No, don't do that, Lorenzo. I appreciate it, but I don't need to feel any dirtier. I'm trying to protect Alexis here, not help you get her in your bed," Luke said seriously. "But listen. I will give you a little bit of free advice. After her trial, the court sent Alexis to a shrink. I happen to know the guy. He was pretty good at his job. He even helped me. But from what I could tell, he didn't get real far with her. She's a tough nut to crack. He did fall in love with her, though, for whatever that's worth."

"And she with him?" asked Lorenzo warily. "Isn't that the traditional way?"

"I don't know about that. She had other priorities at the time. I know she cared about him, and appreciated his help. They were close. But he had that doctor's arrogance, you know, thinking he understood his patients better than they did. Alexis hated that."

"This is Cameron Lewis, right?" Lorenzo asked. "I read about him. He died in the hotel fire?"

"Yeah," said Luke. "Chalk another one up in the loss column."

"Dios," Lorenzo said softly. "Another one." He opened the door and followed Luke out of the office. "Thanks, Luke."

"I'll see you around, Lorenzo."

chapter  7