The drinks flowed freely. Music, a seamless mixture of current chart-toppers and jams from decades gone by, blared forth. Syncopated bursts of brilliant light flashed as bodies mingled and swayed both in and away from the dance arena.

      To call it a ‘dance floor’ would be a true misnomer. Filled to near overflowing and almost three times the size of the average stage, it could have easily been considered the centerpiece of the establishment were it not for the equally stunning décor. A most unlikely combination of marble, mirrors, and chrome somehow managed to compliment the black and garnet color scheme.

      Then again, she always did have a great eye.

      That last thought made Carly Corinthos chuckle as her eyes scanned the crowd and fell upon her newfound partner, Jasper “Jax” Jacks. Actually, “silent partner” was a more accurate description.

      The agreement, much to Carly’s amazement, had been so straightforward and foolproof, she kept waiting for the punchline. It never came. Attributing it to her good fortune to catch him in a generous mood, one with no ulterior motives to boot, he added, Jax’s terms were simple: he would front the necessary funds to finance the venture, privately retaining full ownership, and Carly would run the show.

      In a year’s time if she had managed to double the profits in relation to the cost of underwriting the venture, the club became hers flat out, with Jax surrendering controlling interest – his 90% to her 10% – to Carly.