"Ashley?" Jerry Jacks walked into his penthouse and threw his keys onto the table. J&J Jacks was in the middle of a takeover and negotiations had him running late again. Ashley hated it when he was late; she was undoubtedly pouting. When he received no answer from his model girlfriend, he walked into the bedroom. The redhead was splayed face down on the bed and the room had a strange calm about it, as if all the air had been sucked out. Feeling immediately uneasy, Jerry brushed the comforter off his girlfriend's shoulder. "Ash?" He repeated, more uncertainly this time, panic rushing through him. Something was as wrong as it could get! With a deep shuddering breath, Jerry gingerly turned the model onto her back. He rocked back on his heels, unable to tear his eyes away. All he could do was to stare at her in shock, disbelieving the sight before his horrified eyes.

"Oh God." Jerry said in a groan of anguish. The dead model's face was gone; apparently she was the victim of a single gunshot wound to the face. Shaking in fear, revulsion, and horror, Jerry sank to the floor, staring blankly at the scene before him. His glazed eyes focused on the Cassadine medallion dangling from Ashley's fingers. His life as he knew it had reached a swift and irrevocable end.

~~*~~

Monaco

The young woman did one last check in the mirror, straightening her black dress and fluffing her honey blond locks. She could almost hear her Gram's voice in her head. "Jenna first impressions are the most important" She mocked in a cultured voice. If that advice was true, tonight was the most important of her life. Everything needed to be flawless. She felt the cold metal of her agency issued revolver against her thigh, relieved to have that comforting bit of reassurance. Not that this night was anything but a typical night in the life of Jenna Jacks debutante/international spy. She'd be a good little debutante and contribute oodles of the Jacks empire to the cause du jour, eat drink and be merry. God she hated these functions!

Jenna breezed out of the elevator, sighing inwardly and cursing her luck. Why had she been the one chosen for this assignment? Instead of going out and shooting villains, she was stuck in a slinky backless dress and thigh highs playing nice nice with international dignitaries and one specific prince who wasn't going to know what hit him. Still, he would never believe that such a nice kid could do what she was going to have to do to him.

~~*~~

"Is there anything else I can get you madam?" Ari asked, pouring his mistress Cassadine a glass of champagne.

"No darling, I think this will be enough." Helena replied as she sat in front of her ornate chessboard, playing against herself. "It was a very good night though darling so please don't go far." Ari stepped away, shaking his head. He knew that meant that she would require his ‘services’ for endless hours. As the older woman turned her attention back to the chess game, she moved her final piece after some moments of concentration. "That makes check dear and we all know that mother never loses." She toasted before taking a sip of her bubbly.