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Chapter 9
Elizabeth came down the next morning and stopped on the lowest step of the staircase. Johnny and Francis were standing with Jason, all three men turned to look at her as the conversation came to a halt. "Sorry. You should have yelled up and I would have stayed in the bedroom until Renaldo arrived."
"It's fine." Jason said letting his eyes move from the top of his girl's head to her feet. She was wearing a black business suit, pants not a skirt, with a lace top under the jacket and it was giving him all kinds of naughty ideas. So were her red heels. Her hair was up in a fancy twist and she had a pair of her favorite earrings in her ears. She looked polished and professional. "You look nice."
"Thanks. Hi Johnny, Francis." Elizabeth came down and grabbed her bag.
"Liz." Johnny said grinning.
Francis nodded. "Good morning Liz." He was grinning too, his young friend looked all grown up.
"I have my interview this morning, and then the last of my finals." She was almost a college graduate. "So I'll go right from the hospital to school. After I'll come back here." Elizabeth told him.
"You don't need to clear your schedule with me. You will this weekend, but not normally." Jason clarified, as long as she had her guard with her she could go anywhere she wanted.
"I know." She knew that Jason had no desire to control her, but she also knew that what was going on right now was far from the norm. "I'll wait in the hall." Elizabeth said heading to the door so the guys could finish their meeting.
"Elizabeth." Jason said stopping her. When she turned he walked over and stood in front of her. "Good luck." He whispered before kissing her.
"Thanks. Be careful." Elizabeth said blushing slightly. "Jason?"
"Yeah." He put his hands in his pockets to keep them off her.
"Do you have a guard?" She wanted to know.
"Cody." He should have told her about that change before now. "Renaldo, unless he's with you, when Cody isn't available."
"Okay." That made her feel better. "Have a good day." She said just as the guard knocked.
Jason leaned over and opened the door to admit Renaldo.
"Ms. Webber." The guard said in greeting, nodding at the guys.
"I'm ready." Elizabeth really hoped that statement was true. "Bye." She waved as she walked out.
"How come she's nervous? She has the job in the bag." Francis looked at Jason. "You're dad isn't going to turn her away."
"I think that's part of the problem. She's worried that he's hiring her because of her connection to me. Or because Steve Hardy was her grandfather. She also applied to Mercy because they have the same program, but she wants to work at General Hospital." Jason explained to his friends.
"Working at General Hospital would be better. Not great, but better. Your dad will let her have guards. I'm not sure Dr. Ford will." Francis said mentioning the name of Mercy's Chief of Staff.
"I'm not worried, she is more than qualified to get the position. What was the overnight report?" Jason said getting back to their meeting.
"Our visitor passed a quiet night. His name is Connor Bishop." Johnny reported. "He is ex-military, and works now as a hired gun. We will be keeping him under surveillance. I put Shawn on him, since he is also ex-military and will know how Bishop thinks."
"I want to be told immediately if he shows up anywhere near Elizabeth." Jason told his second in command and his highest ranking LT. Cody and Shawn were now LTs as well. Both men nodded. "How is Sonny doing?"
"He is lonely. He misses Carly and Michael. Max says that Sonny is counting down the days until they are together again. He was thrilled that you moved up Carly's departure date." Francis smiled. "Maximus is prepared to receive them earlier as well. Max and Milo will stay with Sonny for the first few years, then new guards will be brought in. Right now the plan is that the family will stay in Palermo for the first month, and then to Florence for a few months. After that they go to Rome where they will stay for another six months before moving to Spain. That may change if it becomes necessary. Maximus plans on allowing his boys to decide if they wish to return to Port Charles or stay home when this assignment is over."
"If they wish to return they will be welcome, with no loss of seniority." Jason told Johnny. "Anything else?"
"Manny Ruiz is requesting a meeting while he is in Port Charles. He has information that he wants willing to pass along and he wants to ask you for a favor." Johnny reported.
"Set it up." Jason would enjoy a meeting with the other mob boss.
"You have a meeting with Carlos Rivera later today." Francis told Jason.
Jason closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "The last time I met with him I almost killed him." Carlos's family controlled Rochester. Jason found the father Hector to be fine, but Carlos was cocky with no skills to back that attitude up.
"With Sonny's passing Hector wishes to broker a new treaty. He is giving Carlos more power while he still alive so he can rein his son in if necessary." Francis shared.
"If you kill him Duke will be pissed. I believe putting a bullet in Carlos is his Christmas present to himself." Johnny said laughing.
"I seriously doubt Carlos will still be breathing by December if his father dies. Duke will just have to get over it." Jason muttered. "I'm going to the office, if you need me call. Try to need me twenty minutes after my meeting with Carlos starts." Jason said putting his gun in its holster.
"That shouldn't be a problem." Johnny laughed knowing Jason was joking as the three men headed out to work.
"Do you need to come in with me?" Elizabeth asked Renaldo.
"No. I seriously doubt Dr. Quartermaine is going to hurt you." The guard said scanning the waiting room. Jason's grandmother was in that same category. As for the rest of the family, now including Emily, he didn't trust them at all. If Jason's sister dropped the new attitude she was sporting things would be fine. Edward though, him Renaldo worried about. The old man was ruthless. "So what is this job?"
"Art Therapist." Elizabeth said looking over her resume again. "It's a new program here at the hospital and I'm really interested in working with the patients. I have an interview next week with Mercy if this doesn't pan out. And an interview with the school district the week after if Mercy doesn't work."
"I'm sure you'll get this. General Hospital hires the best, and you're really talented." Renaldo told the petite brunette.
"Thanks Renaldo." Elizabeth took a deep breath and tried to be as confident in herself as her guard was.
Francis walked into Jason's office a few minutes before the meeting was set to start. Meetings were rarely one on one. Carlos would more than likely have his enforcer with him. Especially since he was coming into another family's territory. "How bad would it be if I hit him?" Jason wanted to know.
"I don't think it will cause a war, but I'm sure Maximus will be contacted." Francis told his boss. "You'll probably be fined. Unless you can get him to say or do something stupid while he is here."
"He has a short fuse." Jason said giving it some thought. Pounding on Carlos would be a great stress reliever. "Maybe after the funeral." Jason's assistant knocked and announced their visitors.
"Jason." Carlos came in and without being invited took a seat. "It's good to see you."
"Carlos. Nico." Jason greeted both men. He sat behind his desk. He knew and liked the Rivera family enforcer Nico Dane. The Danes and Riveras were united by marriage, so Nico got a high ranking position within the organization. "What can I do for you?"
"First let me offer my condolences on the passing of your former boss." Carlos knew enough to start the meeting like this. Things in their world were done a certain way.
"Thank you. Sonny will be missed." Jason said with his Stone Cold face in place.
"Will we be able to offer our condolences to Mrs. Corinthos?" Carlos thought Carly was hot, and would love to get her in his bed now that she was available.
"She will be at the service." Jason answered already tired of this meeting. Carlos wasn't going to get within ten feet of Carly.
"Then I will see her there. I know your time is valuable so I will not waste it." Carlos had no clue why his father sent him down. This was job any one of their LTs could do. "We would like to know if our treaty with Sonny is going to be recognized by you now that you have taken power."
Jason's pale blue gaze settled onto Carlos. "I have not yet had time to review the conditions of the treaty that you worked out with Sonny." Jason already knew what those terms were, he just wanted to mess with Carlos. "After I read it, I will be sure to contact your father with my decision." Jason basically just delivered the verbal version of a smack down. Not only did he not say that Rochester was safe from the Morgan Organization, but he also just told Carlos he had no intention of dealing with him.
Nico who was standing behind his boss smirked. Hector's health was failing and when he died many people would be gunning for Carlos. Nico suspected Jason would not be one of them. Morgan owned Port Charles and Crimson Pointe, controlling all the piers meant he controlled what came into upstate New York. True Rochester had water but it was patrolled by the Canadians which rendered it useless. Carlos needed Jason not only to bring their goods in, but to protect him when he eventually got attacked.
"When will that be?" Carlos wanted to know. Returning without a definitive answer would make him look weak in his father's eyes. As Hector's illegitimate son his claim on the territory was tenuous at best. If Juan decided he wanted it then then Hector would give the land to his grandson, the child of Carlos's dead half-sister. He didn't kill Lily to lose out now.
"After the funeral." Jason said standing indicating the meeting was over. "Thank you for coming."
Carlos stood as well. "We will see you at the funeral." He said in a tight voice before leaving the office.
Jason smirked as he turned to Francis. "That wasn't as painful as I thought. How many more of these do I have to go through?"
Francis grinned. Jason had handled that well. Whereas Sonny would have done more talking, the younger blonde got right to the point before dismissing his visitor. Jason was going to make an excellent boss. "A lot. Most families will want some of your time while they are here. The bulk of them will speak to you at the reception after the service. The ones Maximus would like you make peace with will be at dinner on Friday night."
"Maximus will be careful who he invites." Jason knew the older man would also respect the decisions he reached regarding each family. "I'll have that list by tomorrow. Now I need to go see your wife, about getting some permits to build some new condos in Crimson Pointe."
"Tell her I said hello." Francis grinned.
"Will do." Jason said heading out of the office.
Elizabeth walked back into penthouse four and kicked off her heels. Today had been an awesome day. Alan offered her the job at the hospital before she left the office, and then she had gone to school and aced her final. When the grade came in she would be officially done with school. Elizabeth did a happy dance all the way into the kitchen. This deserved a mini celebration, she would have a bigger one after commencement. Right now a brownie was called for. She was reaching for the tin when the door opened.
"Ms. Webber?" The guard called out.
"Yes." Elizabeth came back out front.
"You have a visitor." He announced.
"Okay." Elizabeth went from happy to ecstatic. "You're home!" She rushed over and hugged her friend.
"I am." Claudia laughed. "Hopefully Johnny will feel the same way." The Italian brunette said returning the hug.
"Of course he will. He's been miserable without you. How was the wedding? Tell me every detail." Elizabeth said pulling Claudia into the kitchen.
The older woman saw the tin and smiled. "You are going to share right?" Claudia didn't eat many desserts, but she ate Liz's brownies.
"Yup." Elizabeth got down two saucers, and started some coffee. "Details."
"It was great." Claudia said taking a seat. "Being in Paris in late spring is never a bad thing. You really do need to get Jason to take you."
"I'd love to travel to Europe with Jason." Elizabeth served up the snack. "How was the gown?"
"Divine, but it was Kate Howard and she wasn't going to wear anything less." Claudia and Kate were partners in a magazine called Crimson. Claudia handled the American edition while Kate covered Europe. "I took a lot of pictures, and of course my photographer was there so we can do a spread on the nuptials. I'll show you the proofs when they come in."
"Great. Did you see John?" Elizabeth asked her friend. John was Claudia's younger brother. He was attending the Vienna Conservatory of Music. Her friend rarely got to see her brother. They had been close growing up, but now lived on two separate continents.
The Zaccharas had once been a powerful mob family. When Claudia's uncle ran things it was fine, but after his death her father took over. Anthony was unstable and dangerous. He ended up getting assassinated by a rival family. Claudia and John had come to Boston where the Donnelly Organization offered them asylum. After graduating high school John returned to Europe and Claudia stayed in Boston where she eventually met Johnny. Not long after that she moved to Port Charles.
"I did. I also got to meet his girlfriend." Claudia grinned.
"John has a girlfriend? Do tell." Elizabeth had only met John once. He seemed nice and was an incredibly gifted musician.
"Georgianna Jones. She goes to the Conservatory as well, for voice." Claudia shared. "She's really nice. I'm trying to talk them into visiting sometime soon. So what's been going on here in my absence? Anyone drop a house on Carly yet?" The two women did not get along. Carly had accused Claudia of making a play for Sonny before the blonde found out Claudia was seeing Johnny.
"Nope, she is less than pleased that I'm living here." Elizabeth shrugged.
Claudia knew some of what was happening in the territory. Her assistant had mentioned that no one had seen Sonny in about a week. She wouldn't ask Elizabeth about that. "She'll get over it, or not. I'm sure Courtney will call up and they can shop their worries away while bitching about you." Claudia grinned.
"Well they will have plenty to talk about. Let me get us both another brownie and I'll fill you in on what's been going on while you were in Paris. Including what happened yesterday." Elizabeth said grinning.
Based on the twinkle in her friend's eyes Claudia knew it was going to be good.
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