Chapter 7

The next morning they are having breakfast when there's a knock on the door. Jason stands to go get it. There stands Maximus and Margarita Giambetti. He invites them in. They walk into the kitchen.

"Elizabeth, this is Maximus and Margarita Giambetti, Maximus, Margarita, this is my fiancé Elizabeth Webber." Liz sets her fork down.

"Nice to meet you Mr. And Mrs. Giambetti." She states standing to shake hands with them.

"What a lovely girl." Margarita remarks.

"Such a pure, innocent look, much like myself when I met Maximus here." She states with a smile.

"I wish you two a long happy life. So when is the big day?" She asks. Liz looks at them.

"We want to be married Thursday, my parents and I aren't really getting along and I don't have many friends back in the states." Liz states.

"Oh Maximus, we must help this couple." She states.

"Yes, Margarita. We will. Tell us, Mr. Morgan what can we do to help?" He asks.

"Well, I need Margarita, if she will, help pick out the wedding dress and the dress for Friday's dinner." He states.

"Of course Mr. Morgan. Not a problem, come Miss Webber, we must depart, got a long day of shopping ahead of us." Liz smiles.

"Call me either Elizabeth or Liz." She states.

"Ahh, such a beautiful name, Elzabetta." She states. Liz nods.

"We must depart, boys have fun, but not too much fun." Margarita tells them. Jason smiles and hands Liz his credit card.

"Don't think about the money, just buy what you want." He tells her. Liz nods. Liz and Margarita leave.

"Ahh, Elzabetta is a lot like Margarita, she knows her place in this world." He states.

"She's learning." Jason states.

"Won't take long for her to get the hang of it. She's the perfect woman for you and for this life. She's silent when she needs to be, and she's feisty when she needs to be." Maximus states. Jason nods.

"That she is. Would you like a cup of coffee?" He asks.

"Yes, please." He states sitting down. Jason grabs their breakfast plates and sets them in the sink. He then walks over and grabs a clean coffee cup and the pot of coffee.

"How do you like yours Mr. Giambetti?" He asks.

"Black is fine." Maximus states. Jason nods. He brings the carafe of coffee over and sets the clean mug down in front of Maximus and proceeds to fill the cups. He then walks over to put the carafe back on the warmer.

"We can talk while I put these couple dishes in the dishwasher. We have a maid that comes in but we do clean up after ourselves a little." He states with a smile.

"Sure Mr. Morgan." Maximus states.

"Please, it's Jason." He tells him.

"You can call me Max. Maximus is a lot to get out. I usually go by that because I have a son that goes by Max."

"Max, if you have a son, can I ask why you want to put me in charge of your U.S. territories?" Jason asks.

"Max and Milo, my two sons, I love them dearly, but neither one has what it takes to run the business. They have great muscle strength and would be good as a guard or something but they don't have what it takes to deal with running the whole thing. You on the other hand, I've been watching, you are smart, you think things threw before you act, and you have a business head on your shoulders." Max tells him.

"I would like for you to bring my sons on and train them in this world but I want control to be for you." Maximus states.

"So in other words you want me to be the figure head and Max and Milo to be the brawn?" He asks.

"Well, Max and Milo, as much as I love them, I don't see them ever being more then guards in this business. Neither one has good business sense and they let their hearts lead more then their heads. They are very loyal guys, but that's about it." Max states.

"So in other words, you want me to be your second." Jason states.

"Well, kind of. Margarita and I don't get to go to the states as much as we should with trying to start up an operation over there. You already are known by the other heads from your time working for Sonny." Max tells him.

"But if, I bring another organization into it, some of them will look at it as a betrayal to Sonny." Jason states.

"That's why I figured once we get the details ironed out, we will have a meeting with all the heads that I'll be at so I can explain. I don't want to cause problems, I want us to work side by side with Corinthos, I would never ask you to betray him." He states.

"I know that. I'm just trying to see how this would work." He states. Maximus nods.

"I know, we can figure out the little details later. Right now, the Ruiz's in Miami are floundering and so is Sorelle out of Chicago having problems." Maximus states.

"Sorelle is lucky he's still alive. I should have killed that SOB a few months ago." Jason states.

"Well, there is also the Alcazar's that are looking to get involved in North America." He states.

"Yeah, I've heard that Louise is ruthless." Jason states.

"He is. He would kill his own mother if it would benefit him." Max states.

"So where exactly are you looking to run out of?" Jason asks.

"Well, I'm trying to stay away from Port Charles itself because of Sonny, but I've heard that Rhode Island and Maine are both costal places that we might be able to open up into." He states.

"Or we could go after Sorelle and take over Chicago. It would take some doing, but I think we could do that." Jason states.

"Do you want to get involved in a turf war right now Jason?" Max asks.

"No, but I don't want Sorelle running loose, thinking that he's this high power when he's not." Jason states.

"Why don't we talk it over on Friday, I hear Mr. Corinthos is coming in." Max states.

"Is he? I haven't called him. Elizabeth and I have been on vacation. I haven't even thought about checking in with him." Jason states remembering his phone is shut off upstairs.

"Yeah, he called and said that he would be flying in Thursday." Jason nods and Maximus notices the look on his face.

"Something wrong?" He asks.

"Well, I was hoping that he wouldn't be coming in until Friday. I wanted Elizabeth and I to be married before he comes." Jason states.

"But if he's your friend, wouldn't it be good to have him here for your wedding?" Max asks.

"When Elizabeth and I left the states, Sonny and I hit a rocky spot in our relationship." Jason tries to explain.

"Ahh yes, Miss Benson. It seems that she is coming with him." Max states. Jason swears.

"Jason, can I be honest?" Max asks. Jason nods.

"I don't want to have to deal with Mr. Corinthos, if I had my way, we would be taking over his territory, but I can't in good faith ask you to go against him. I know what happened with you, Miss Benson, and Mr. Corinthos, and honestly if he was willing to sleep with someone that you were involved with, it scares me about what else he could pull. To me Sonny, seems to be very, what's the word I'm looking for, selfish and doesn't think things threw very much." Max explains.

"Jason, I know you and Elizabeth haven't been together long, and this is kind of fast for marriage but let me tell you something, Margarita and I got married three weeks after we met, and we've been together for over 30 years. Sometimes, when it's right, it's right. When I see you and Elizabeth together, I see how Margarita and I were when we first were married. That's why I have no problems with this quick marriage you are doing." He states.

"I've known Liz for about a year now. I was friends with her ex-boyfriend. He was kidnapped by Helena Cassidine and we all thought he was dead. I was shot by Sorelle and Liz found me. She nursed me back to health and that's when we really became friends. This trip started out as just friends escaping from our lives, Liz, due to Lucky coming back and everyone saying she needed to help him because he helped her through a horrible event in her life. Me to get away from Sonny and Carly and get my head back on straight." Jason explains.

"Ahh, so how did it turn to this romance?" Maximus asks.

"I feel in love with her. I fell in love with her when I was staying in her art studio after being shot." Jason states.

"I take it, she fell in love with you too then?" He asks.

"So she says. We are even talking about having kids." He states.

"Ahh, bambinos, such a great thing to have, lots of bambinos to love and raise." Maximus states. Just then Max's phone rings. He answers and speaks in Italian. Soon he's hanging up.

"That was Ricardo, my enforcer. It seems that there is a new family in some place called Crimson Pointe." Maximus states.

"The Zaccharra's? I've heard the old man, Anthony I think his name is." Jason replies.

"How about we go after that crazy old man? I'll call Sonny and let him know, then send in a team. When do you plan on heading back to the states?" He asks.

"Well, we were going to be here another 2 weeks then about a month in London." Jason replies.

"Ok so about 6 weeks? I can have the territory taken over at that point. I'll send Ricardo and he can start weeding through the crew there and start the beginnings of the empire. Then when you go back, Crimson Pointe is yours to run. Ricardo will stay just long enough for the guys to get used to you and then you can go from there, hire your own enforcer and such." He tells Jason.

"Sounds good, and the families might not have a problem with that one." Jason states.

"Hopefully not." Maximus states. Jason nods.

"Excuse me for a minute, I'll run upstairs and grab my cell phone. I haven't even had it turned on most of the time I was here. A couple of Sonny's guys have the number here and they were told to call here if they needed me, I wasn't available for everyone." Jason tells him. Maximus nods. Jason stands and runs up to his and Liz's room. A few minutes later Jason is walking back in with the phone to his ear listening to the messages. He hangs up the phone and shakes his head.

"50 messages and 48 of them were from Carly. One was from Emily, my sister and the other was from Sonny stating he was coming out on Thursday. I'll call him back in a few minutes." Maximus nods.

"I should call Margarita and find out how long they are going to be. If they are going to be too long, I'll start dinner." Maximus states.

"You don't have to do that, there's about 20 meals left to be heated. I had a cook come in and prepare meals. We haven't eaten many of them." Jason states. Maximus nods.

Three hours later Liz and Margarita walk in like they have been best friends for years.

"Jason, I hope you don't mind but I've asked Margarita to stand with me in our wedding tomorrow." She states.

"That's fine. I'm glad you two get along. Maximus since Margarita is standing with Liz, would you be my best man?" He asks.

"Don't you want it to be Sonny?" He asks. Liz looks at Jason.

"Surprise, Sonny is coming tomorrow. He's coming in for the dinner on Friday." Jason tells her. Liz looks down.

"That banshee is coming too isn't she?" Liz asks.

"Don't know, I haven't called him to ask. If so, who cares? You and I by Friday will be husband and wife, and it doesn't matter what Carly stays or does." Jason tells her wrapping her arms around Jason.

"Jason, if I may," Margarita breaks in.

"Mi Bella, he loves you. You are the one he has chosen to have his bambinos and spend the rest of his life with. Don't worry about that banshee." Margarita states.

"Now, come on, you are coming back with us tonight. Tradition states the groom can not see the bride 24 hours before the wedding, come, lets go pack a bag. Your dress is still in the car." Margarita states. Jason looks at Maximus. He nods.

"Margarita is a tough one like your Elizabetta. Once her mind is set, there's no changing it. Where are we meeting you tomorrow?" He asks.

"Here, I am having someone come set up an arch out back here looking over the mountains." He states.

"No, no, no that won't do. I know. You come over to our Villa tomorrow, and you will be married in our church. It's a beautiful little church with wood pews and such. I will clear in through our pastor. If this is a true wedding, you must be married in a church, it must be blessed by God." Maximus states.

"Ok, sounds good to me." He tells Maximus.

"Then, if you want, we have a nice, little guest house, you can stay in that way Margarita and Elizabetta can get ready Friday together." Maximus stays.

"Really, that's too much." Jason tells him.

"No, Jason's It's a wonderful idea, what do you think Elizabetta?" She asks Elizabeth.

"I wouldn't mind it Jason, if you don't mind. I know it's our wedding night and all, but I kind of want some more time to get to know Margarita before Friday since she will be the only one I know there." Elizabeth states.

"See, It's settled, Jason. You guys will spend tomorrow night in the same cabin that Margarita and I stayed in over 30 years ago when we got married." Maximus states. Elizabeth smiles.

"Come child. We have much to do before tomorrow. Maximus, we must leave now." Margarita states.

"Hold on Margarita, let me run up and get my dress for Friday." Margarita nods. Liz runs upstairs.

"Are you sure?" Jason asks.

"Yes, Jason, Elizabetta is like the daughter I wasn't able to have. I love my sons, don't get me wrong but I have always wanted a girl and now I have Elizabetta. It's time for me to pass on my knowledge and neither of my boys are in a hurry to give me someone to pass it on too." Margarita replies.

"As long as you are sure." He states.

"Yep." She tells him. Jason nods.

"I'll see you tomorrow." He tells them as Liz comes back downstairs carrying a dress bag. Maximus takes it from her along with the suitcase that is sitting in the doorway.

"Say your goodbye's to your fiancé Mrs. Morgan." Maximus states. Liz nods. She walks over to Jason.

"I'll miss you." She tells him.

"I'll miss you too. I love you Elizabeth." He states pulling her in and giving her a passionate kids. She pulls away for a breath.

"WOW! Ok, that will tide me over until tomorrow night." She tells him. He smiles.

"I'll think of you tonight when I fall asleep upstairs in that big old bed by myself." He tells her.

"You'll be fine. Call and touch base with Sonny." Liz tells him. He nods. Margarita grabs her arm.

"Come child." She states. Jason watches Liz leave with Maximus and Margarita. He sits down and listens to the silence. He picks up his cell and calls Sonny.