John and Marlena (Finally) Get a Q!

Chapter 86 - All The Way

Vivian Alamain arched one well-defined eyebrow and looked around the Penthouse Grill.

"How grotesque," she commented to her constant companion, Ivan Marais.

"I'm sorry Madame?" Ivan was used to his Madame's uninterpretable comments.

"I mean *look* at it, Ivan," she waved her hand airily at the profusion of ivory flowers that decorated the room. Swathes of white satin lined the walls and a small string quartet were setting up in the corner. "Anyone would think we were arriving at a funeral."

"I hardly think so Madame," Ivan looked distinctly uncomfortable with his Vivian's assessment of the situation. The whole situation was odd, but then this was Salem, where odd was de rigueur.

"Well really," she fingered the soft flesh of the Madonna Lilly in the arrangement closest to her with evident distaste. "So tacky. Really, I am sure this will prove to be quite a disastrous evening."

"How can you say that, Madame?" Ivan questioned, "When you have no idea what is to happen tonight."

"It's quite self-evident Ivan," Vivian said distantly as she watched Kate Roberts enter the restaurant with the recently rehabilitated Victor Kiriakis. "After all, look at the company."

"Please Madame," Ivan's voice took on a pleading tone. He knew what a sore point Victor was with her, and he could easily imagine her making a scene in front of the half of Salem that would be here tonight.

"Oh *relax* Ivan," Vivian replied testily, "I think I am the *least* of your worries."

She raised her glass of wine to her lips and watched Sami and Eric Brady enter the room and look around. Eric said something in a low tone, and she flashed a glare at him before crossing the room to greet Vivian's nephew, John Black.

Vivian had already noted that John had entered the Grill alone, presumably he was meeting Kristen here, but she was still nowhere to be seen. He had a big smile and a hug for Sami, and she seemed equally happy to see him. Only Eric looked sulkily resentful. On the other side of the room, Austin Reed looked anxiously at his wife as she stared at the people who were now trickling at a steady pace through the door.

This brought Vivian's glance full circle around the room, and she watched Bo and Hope Brady enter the room, looking around for some clue as to what was going on. For them, as for everyone else, this was evidently still a mystery.

Ivan's attention was snapped back by a small, but delighted laugh from his Madame.

"Oh *my*," she clapped her hands with a broad smile, "now *that* should make the evening *very* interesting. Don't you think Ivan?"

"Madame I....," he opened and shut his mouth as he watched the newcomers enter the lion's den.

Eugene Bradford looked smart in a tuxedo and on his arm, he escorted Dr. Marlena Evans. She was dressed in a flowing gown of cream chiffon, the spaghetti straps, bust, and hemlines of the gown all studded with sparkling rhinestones. However, the empire waistline of the dress could in no way conceal the fact that she was expecting a baby. Roman Brady was only a step behind them, and as Marlena entered the room, Ivan noted that her free hand groped blindly for Roman's.

Vivian crossed her arms in front of her and noted with satisfaction the shocked reaction that reverberated around the room.

"*Exceedingly* interesting."

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