life is a highway [nikolas]

[Carly Zacchara]

I smirked, blowing off yet another guy. Didn’t any of these losers ever realize that they couldn’t live up to my standards? Sure, I had had several boyfriends throughout the years, more than Lizzie ever tried to, but none of them amounted to the real thing. I had the real thing once with Jason, but that ended before it ever started. A part of me deep, deep down still wished we could find our way back to each other, but the other part was happy just being his friend. His best friend. He said I always meddled in his life, but I didn’t meddle. I helped. Big difference. Jase just needed to learn to appreciate me more because without me and Sonny, he wouldn’t really have anyone. He had Addy through Sonny and only had Gabe because I convinced him to take him in. It was stupid that I had to even do that, but Jase was too nice of a guy to want to bring a kid into his life. What he didn’t realize was that any woman or kid who really loved him would adjust. I just hoped for his sake that he would find someone second-best to me. Since I didn’t really want him anymore, he had to find someone almost as great as me.

Walking into Deception, I still didn’t understand why Laura insisted on co-owing when she wasn’t even around half of the time. She wanted Lizzie as the face of the company a few years back, but first of all, there was no way I was letting my bratty sister into my job and second, she didn’t even want to do it. I almost thought about asking Gia Campbell, since I knew Lizzie would hate that, but the girl wouldn’t have been a good face either. We used standard models for now and were still looking for someone who would be a perfect fit. Since Lizzie and I were a lot more civil than we used to be, I might have asked her. I would never understand why she would pass up the chance to model. But we still weren’t friends. She was the bratty little sister that you secretly loved but bullied any chance you had. I ran the business more than Laura ever did and it was only for Mama that I didn’t have her removed. Yet.

I should have had more brothers. I got along pretty well with Johnny, Vincent, and Lucas. With Brenda and Lizzie usually, it was one catfight after the next. Especially Brenda. The bitch thought she was something special just because she was a few years older. Anthony didn’t even love her mom. He pursued Mama for years. Emily, Emily was the peacemaker. You couldn’t help but love her. Most of the time. It still didn’t have me sitting down and gossiping with her like she always did with Lizzie. Those two were almost closer than Lizzie and Johnny. Almost. I would never get what Sonny saw in my sister. He could do so much better. But at the same time, he hurt my sister all those years ago and as much as I hated it, it was my instinct to not let anyone mess with my family except for me. That included Brenda bitch.

I leaned back in my chair, kicking off my heels and propping my feet onto the desk. Scanning through the magazine, I marked my page to read later and then looked over the files. Ah yes. Deception was doing way better than Jacks ever could. Jax might as well give up. “Ms. Zacchara, a Mr. Cassadine to see you." I smirked and answered the secretary. “Let him in.” Nikolas Cassadine might be the only thing that Emily and I ever fought about. "Nikolas, what are you doing here?"

[Nikolas Cassadine]

I pulled up to Deception in my Jag. I knew damn well my mother wouldn't be in, but it was an excuse to come by anyway. I needed to see how Emily was doing, and Carly was just the person I needed to get in good with. Emily had made it clear, that we were over. I don't blame her for not wanting to even look my way. The heart is a strange thing. So powerful. It renders you crazy at times. My heart will always be with her, even if it's not mine she wants.

Carly and I have had this love, hate kind of relationship. There is so much tension between the both of us. Too passionate, powerful people. A lot alike in some ways. I really don't know what it is exactly, but there is a strong attraction between the two of us. Neither one of us is willing to admit. Innocent flirting here and there, bickering like enemies, but with all this sexual tension all pent up.

I step inside the building, and smile at the secretary. "I'm here to see, Ms. Zacchara please." I say politely, and adjust my tie. When she gives cue, I walk into Carly's office. "Nikolas, what are you doing here?" "Such attitude, from someone who would be quite hot if not so hostile at times." I raise my brow walking further into the room. "i just came by because my mother wanted some paperwork dropped off. I set it down in her office." I tell her with confidence. So what. A little white lie, what harm is in that?

"So, you shouldn't jump to conclusions about every man wanting to kiss those feet of yours." I raise my brow, and take a seat across from where she's sitting. "How's Emily, doing?" It was fun to get her riled up. I can see in her reaction, that I pissed her off just a tad. Not playing into her games, and asking about her sister. That is a sure fire way to get her to start snapping at me. I guess I'm up for a playful game with her. The timings perfect. We both have nothing to lose, so why not?

[Carly Zacchara]

I rolled my eyes. “Oh you know I’m hot. Smoking hot. Way out of your league.” Please, I could see right through that pathetic lie. Didn’t he realize yet that I was the queen of lying? “Uh huh. She’s not in and won’t be for weeks, she’s not even going to get that. You really need to learn how to lie better.” You couldn’t find a guy like Nikolas Cassadine attractive. He didn’t have that fine, chiseled look like Jason and looked like he didn’t do anything but sit around commanding people all day. Real men worked. Little boys sat behind desks and pretended to run countries. I never understood what my sister saw in him and I knew that I never would. At least Lizzie had enough common sense not to fall for the whiny, cocky Prince Nikolas, even if she didn’t have common sense about anything else. She didn’t, but that was probably something she somehow inherited from that annoying cousin of hers. Then again, Lizzie hated Sarah more than I did.

“Please, they would wash these feet if they could get close enough. Do you know how many losers I turned down in the last hour alone? And they’re far better looking than you.” Seriously, he was still pining after Emily? If Em was smart, she would move on before he could get her back. “She’s great. Better than she ever was with you around. Let me give you a tip, okay? She doesn’t want you. It’s over. Using her older sister to try to get in with her isn’t going to work. I know how you operate; I invented the book.”

If he thought he could beat me at my own game, he was dead wrong. Dead…that sounded nice. I bet I could always sneak into the mansion before Anthony noticed I was around and…nah, that was too good for him. Letting him sit in agony thinking that Em had fallen in love with someone else…now, that was something I could definitely work with. “She’s moved on so why don’t you take the hint and take a hike?” He was my cousin’s brother, not related to me. I could be a bitch if I wanted.

[Nikolas Cassadine]

I laugh at her initial comment. "Ha...You truly are a riot." Relaxing in the soft, leather chair, I raise my brow and give her a smirk. "Hot....you would be if you lost the attitude. At least if you toned it down just a bit." I press my index, and thumb together gesturing to her. "Out of my league? Keep telling yourself that one, Carly." I reach my hand to the back of my neck, scratching an annoying itch. Sitting here talking with Carly would appear to anyone else like she was an annoying itch that needed to be scratched. Indeed she was actually enjoying our banter, and I must admit so was I.

She speaks of Emily, and my heart stills. I know damn well I have blown my shot with her. A part of me will always be with her, even if her heart doesn't beat for mine anymore. I meet Carly's gaze. Our eyes intensely searching the other's depths, even though we both wanted to fight that urge. "You don't seem to mind....me using you that is..." I let my tongue drag along my lower lip. My eyes dancing with hers. My stare a very sensual one.

"Moved on huh? With who?" I question her, knowing she couldn't possibly have moved on so quickly. Our break up was torturous. "Nevermind." Standing up, I walk behind the desk where Carly is sitting. I pour myself a glass of brandy, and her one as well. "I know you're only saying that Emily has moved on, just to send my blood pressure to a boil. I know she still feels the same for me, as I do her." I take a deep breath, then sip the brandy. I decide to keep to myself the rest. That I knew it was over, and I really am not pursuing her anymore. It was just fun to see Carly get jealous. That was Carly for you. Always jealous that her sisters had men falling to their knees. I hold both glasses in my hand, then finally decide to reach around her from behind. "Here....I'm sure you must need this." I whisper letting my breath blow out just inches from her ear.

[Carly Zacchara]

I smirked. “Much more of a riot than you’ll ever be, much more of a good time too.” The men all flocked to me. The only woman who had shown real interest in Nikolas was Emily. He was no more of a catch than that pathetic cousin of mine, who just so happened to be his brother. “So I could just become another woman who heeds to a man’s every whim? Yeah right. No thanks. You just can’t handle a real woman. Not surprising, since you’re still too much of a boy. Who wants a Mama’s boy?”

He looked like someone hit him in the gut and I wondered if maybe I should. He definitely deserved it. His eyes met mine and I glared at him. He was just the worst excuse for a man to have ever walked this planet. Royalty being wasted on him…I shook my head. “Hell no. No one uses me. I use them. I use you. Get that straight.” He gave me one of those looks that he probably thought turned women on and I just rolled my eyes. You don’t have the look, you don’t do a thing for me. He didn’t have the look, among other things, like the fact that he was annoying as hell.

The look when he heard Emily had moved on was so obvious. Now wasn’t this fun? “A real man. About time too.” I didn’t really know why they had broken up in the first place but I didn’t care. Emily could do so much better than him and then some. He walked behind the desk and I moved as far away from him on my chair as I could. Had this been any other guy, I would be running my legs along his, giving him one of those flirtatious stares that worked on everyone. But this man, I just wanted to get the hell away from.

“Think that if you want but one of these days you’ll have to accept that you aren’t God’s gift to women and Emily finally realized that.” He handed me a brandy glass and I raised an eyebrow, taking it with a short nod. “Yep, could use this.” I took a large gulp and turned my head, only to see his face right near mine. I moved away from him and glared. “What the hell are you doing?"