DYNASTY REVISITED 19 : MEN IN MIND..

                          REVISITED ....
The story so far ....
                                Amanda receives a menacing note from the elusive Max..Alexis finds out Frank has a secret!

Alexis had spent a sleepless night thinking about Adam's revelations concerning Frank's visits to The Fallbacker Institute to see his mystery male friend. Adam assured her he would have photographs of the pair, taken in the grounds of the clinic, for her in a day or so. She was not aware of the clinic, but was informed it was twelve miles outside Denver. Alexis thoughts were filled with what if's! All of them entertaining the notion that somehow the mystery wheelchair bound male, could be more than just a friend, a brother perhaps? Could he be her beloved Dex? Could he have faked his own death? It was no secret that after the tragic events of the fall from the balcony, where Dex apparently died, she had spent the next five day unconcious. Even when she did come around it was another three days before she was told that Dex had died in the fall. By that stage he had been buried, his body cremated as part of his last will and testament. It had been a private ceremony, no fancy frills, a simple wooden box. In fact to her knowledge it had been a closed coffin, no one had seen the body after it had been removed from the scene of the tradjedy, not even Sable who apparently was so distraught she had been sedated, missing the funeral! Alexis hoped it was Dex at the clinic, she could deal with his deceit later. But could she deal with the man he had become, having to face seeing the strong, athletic man she loved resigned to being a cripple, depending on others to look after him, as he had once looked after her.. However she did long to see him, even in this fragile state, after all he had saved her life, by taking the brunt of the fall. Alexis would have to wait and see what the photographs turned up.. If Dex was alive she would have to see him, for better or worse!

Krystle sat staring at her reflection in the mirror of her makeup bureau, she thought about her lunch the previous day with Dylan. She decided it was the time to tell him all about herself, the truth about he marriage, the fact that she was a mother. He seemed to take her revelations in his stride, but she knew deep down he was dissapointed. She knew she could not go on pretending to be someone she certainly was not! It was bad enough, to leave her own home, almost secretly, to meet a stranger, without even discussing the matter with someone, especially her husband! She had to admit to enjoying her lunch dates with him, not to mention the feeedom she felt riding on the back of his motorbike. It all made her feel rather young again, like the young Krystle Jennings. In fact Dylan reminded her of the first love in her life, Matthew Blaisdale, a man so loving, so strong and hardworking. It was hard to believe how he had ended up a regimental monster..What a tragic family his had been, poor demented Claudia burning to death in her hotel room, their young daughter Lindsay persishing in a vehicle crash in South America. Krystle realised how lucky she truly was, she had an adoring husband, a glorious daughter approaching her teens.. Krystle felt satified she had made the correect desicion in persuading Dylan that there was no future as far as romance was concerned. She decided she would not see him again as they had little in common, but the fact they both found each other attractive. She had felt great the last few days, no headaches or diziness, she only hoped she could stay healthy, she had so much to look forward to.

Amanda Carrington had no sooner calmed down after receiving the note from Max, then another delivery arrived in the form of a single black orchid. Amanda knew she was no longer safe, she spent much time at the hotel with Connie, but she had to tell Alexis the full story. She knew her mother had enough on her mind, what with the hotel opening and the Van Dorn trial. However she would want to know if her daughter was in trouble, Amanda hoped she would be able to help. She felt safe here in the haven of her mother's penthouse apartment. She lay back on the King size bed, wrapping the silk duvet around her, she thought about Max.

How she fell for his Italian charms, his dark eyes were so sexy, his jet black hair sleek like a panther. He charmed her with his masculine ways, his stylish dress sense, Armani suits, Gucci loafers, the scent of his Prada Amber pour homme, made her weak at the knees. How she loved whizzing around in his red ferrari, his pride and joy. It had all began well, he could do no wrong in her eyes, but then there came a change. His mood swings, his coldness towards her, then the viscious tongue, culminating in the abuse. She could not escape from him at that point, he treated her as a possession that he was not about to give up. Thank heaven for Connie, she never imagined her saviour would be a working girl. A high class call girl, the type she laughed at among her society friends. She liked Connie, she was certainly a woman of the world, yet she had a classy air about her. Connie ran the stable of girls for Max, she looked after the books, their living arrangements, a proper madame! Connie tried to warn her about Max, but she wouldn't listen, Amanda thought Connie had her eye on Max, little did she know the truth. Amanda now realised just now naive she was, thinking back to all the seedy operations Max was involved. When they met he told her he was a film producer, ran his own studio, with a successful catalogue of films. That much was true, he failed to elaborate on the fact that he ran a porn studio, with his productions hitting the adult dvd stores. She also discovered the bevy of glamorous actresses, whom she mingled with at the many parties held at their house in the Hollywood hills, were the stars of his steamy romps. When the girls were not performing in front of the cameras, they could be found appearing in any one of the twelve spare bedrooms of the house. Amanda was never a big follower of Hollywood films, so when he told her the girls were all up and coming starlets, who was she to argue. She first met Connie at one of these parties, Max had introduced her as an agent, who was looking after the girls on his roster of stars. Amanda lay back and thought how guillable she had been. Had Max ever really loved her, or was she just an attractive hostess in his Hollywood lifestyle. He had always told her how he loved her impeccable manners, her abundance of style, her well clipped tones, product of her exclusive finishing school. She did know he could be ruthless, she found it hard to believe he had become so different to the man she had first met. She knew it was the pressure of losing all he thought he was master of. She knew he was desperate, now his studio had been shut down, some of his stars had contracted aids, causing his other performers to quit. Lawsuits were pending against him, he did not care about that, his father would take care of that side of it. After receiving the note and then the flower, it was decided Connie should check out of the hotel she was staying in and move to another. But how long would it be before he tracked her down again. Max had it in for Connie as she had helped her get away from him, Connie could not stand back and watch the abuse he had begun to inflict upon her. Max without his movie studio in production, could not fully operate his call girl operation or his elegant escorts as he liked to call it! Amanda knew it was time to tell all to Alexis, she felt now her mother would understand and help her as best she could. Jumping out of bed, she quickly dressed and ran downstairs to confront her mother with the truth.

"Darling! Why didn't you tell me? "

Amanda was surprised to find Connie sitting with Alexis drinking coffee and smoking.

"Mandy! I told her everything! It's for the best..."

Alexis gave her daughter a hug, she would do everything in her power to protect her daughter.

"Darling! Don't worry that odious playboy won't harm you again. Max Benaducci, you are obviously nothing like your father! Victor would never stoop to beating up on women, for all his faults. Although not a man to cross, he is still the perfect gentleman!"

Alexis went to the telephone, scanned her address book and dialed.

"Victor! It's Alexis! It has been ages Darling! We need to talk.. You will fly into Denver. A great invention the Lear jet! See you tomorrow evening for dinner! Chow!"

Alexis smiled and lit up a cigarette, no one would threaten her child and get away with it!

To be continued....

(c) Mark Mc Morrow