A/N – Thanks again for the comments! Love reading what you are thinking. Sorry I'm late. Audit started today.

Chapter 9

Johnny's heart clenches. "If I ever see him hit you or find out for sure that he is abusing you, I'm going to fucking annihilate him. In the end, if you let this continue, one of you is not going to walk away from this, and you know it. I really don't want that to be you." He had a suspicion something is going on several weeks ago, but she denied it. Now, he's convinced. "Get a plan and get away from him. I will help you. All you have to do is ask. You just can't let him keep hurting you."

She growls. "You think I don't know that? I'm doing the best I can!"

"Does he have something on you?"

"Johnny, you need to leave this alone. I don't want you to get hurt."

"So it's okay to watch it happen and do nothing? I should take you to the hospital right now. We can document it and he'll be arrested."

She shook her head as tears began to fall. "Scott will just bail him out. He always does and then—"

Terror filled her eyes and Johnny almost lost it.

"You have one week to get a plan and I hope to God you do, because I won't be able to live with the consequences. I know this is your life, but dammit! I won't watch him kill you." They had hung out a little before she went away to school and got involved with Logan and he cares a lot for her. Hell, he could have easily fallen in love if the opportunity had risen.

"You don't know what you are asking me."

"Yes, I do. I'm asking you to fight and confide in a friend who cares about you. I'm begging you to not let him kill you. Someone is going to be hurt and I'd much rather it be him. Whatever he has on you, we can fix it. Please, let me help you."

She starts to cry harder. "No, you can't. It will destroy my life and my family—I can't. He'll eventually get tired of me and I'll be free."

"Emily Quartermaine, do you really think that he is going to get tired of beating you? Cause I can tell you right now, he's not. You are paying the rent, bringing home money because he's a fucking loser and can't even get a job, not to mention that you put up with his shit. He won't stop and one day, he's going to hurt you so badly, there will be no turning back. Is that really a better outcome?"

She looks mortified. "I have to go."

"Emily, please. You know I care about you, right? I'm not saying these things to be mean. Knowing that you are suffering kills me."

She reaches up and briefly touches his face. "Sometimes, I wish I had stayed here and we would have gotten closer because you're a good man. Someday, some girl is going to be really lucky to snag you. Take care and don't worry about me."

His chest is heaving as he watches her limp away. "One week! I mean it!" She disappears around a corner and he makes a decision. If he doesn't hear from her, he's going to Jason and AJ and they'll make the decision for her.

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By the time they arrived at Vista Pointe, Jason is laughing because Elizabeth not only had screamed the entire way, but she sounded so joyful that he couldn't help but go faster, making her yell even louder.

"Oh my God! That was fantastic. I can't believe you went that fast! At first, I was scared, but the wind—wow! It felt so good and everything was just a blur. I never wanted you to stop."

"Well, I'm glad I put a smile on your face."

"You usually do. I hope you like driving your bike, because it's my new favorite thing."

"Anytime you want to go for a ride, you call me."

She made a face. "Do you realize what you just agreed too? Cause I really don't think you do."

He shrugged. "I like riding. It helps me clear my head."

"You think I could steer someday?"

"Hell no. The bike is too big and heavy for you."

She pouted. "Please…"

"No."

She starts to move closer and his eyes narrow. "Come on, Jason. It can't be that hard." She knows it probably is, but she's not going to ruin the fun.

"Nope." He dodges her as she tries to grab onto him.

"Jason!"

When she starts to dart towards him again, he runs up the stairs and she chases him to the bridge.

Once there, she doubles over to catch her breath. "How the hell do you move so fast?"

"Maybe the ribs held you back."

"Very funny…"

"Were you going to try to convince me to let you drive by flirting with me?"

"I was going to do more than flirting."

His eyes slightly darken and he licks his lips. "Just how far were you willing to go, Webber?"

She smirks. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

He starts to move towards her and she takes off, running over the bridge and down a dirt road and he quickly catches up to her and grabs her and throws her over his shoulder and walks back.

"Nice ass."

He shakes his head as she pokes his cheek twice. "Keep your hands to yourself back there."

"Maybe you shouldn't have gone all Neanderthal on me." She smacks his butt and then sucks in her breath as he whips her off his shoulders and plants her onto the ground."

"You are very bad."

She grins and her eyes light up. "You really think so?"

"What am I going to do with you?"

"Give me a lifetime supply of ribs and bike rides?"

"And what did you do to deserve such extravagance?"

Her finger tapped against her lips as she pretended to think. "Isn't just being little old me good enough?"

He chuckled. "Come on. You're going to be screaming like a little girl in a few minutes."

She grinned. "You meant to say bad girl not little. I will forgive you for the slight if you promise to go really fast."

"Oh, I'm going to go fast alright."

She clapped her hands together and ran to the bike and grabbed the helmet.

He slid onto it and she moved behind him and gripped his waist as Jason revved the motor. They were off like a flash with Elizabeth's screams piercing the wind and Jason laughing at her excitement.

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Abby walked into AJ's apartment. "So, what are we celebrating?"

"Let's just say, I'm going to be a very rich man soon."

She smiled. "Congratulations."

"Thanks."

He poured himself some seltzer water and handed her a glass of wine. He always kept a bottle ready for Elizabeth. Luckily, he never really had a taste for it. "To success and happiness."

She touched her glass to his and they drank.

"Your father called me earlier."

She groaned. "What now?"

"He implied that you are a spy and that I'm crazy if I trusted you."

Her face turns red and sits the glass on the table. "Please tell me that you didn't believe him. He's just trying to start trouble. I'm going to kill him."

He placed his finger over her mouth. "I don't believe him. Do you really think you'd be standing here if I did?"

"I guess not. I wouldn't hurt you like that. I'm not him and for the record, he hasn't asked me."

"Yet…"

"Well, if he does—"

"Abby, he might ask you to choose between the family business and me or try to attack me."

"I would walk away rather than hurt you like that."

"Either way, he wins."

She crossed her arms in front of her. "Then we'll figure out a way, even if it means lying to make him think that we aren't together."

"Why?"

Her eyes softened. "I like you and I hate people telling me what to do."

He smiled at her spunk. "Enough what ifs…" He turned on the stereo. "May I have this dance?"

"Yes."

They swayed to the music as they gazed at each other. Her father had tried to tell her AJ was no good, but as far as she could tell, AJ is changed man and she's proud of him. It takes a big man to realize that your life has imploded and have the guts to stand up to everyone against you and fight. In a way, she thinks her father actually admires that too, he's just too stubborn and pigheaded to admit it.

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Jason escorted Elizabeth to her door.

"Thanks again, Jason. I had such a great time."

"I did too. I—maybe we can do it again."

She smiled. "I would like that and I'm willing to steer."

His eyes shone with amusement. "You are just hilarious tonight."

"I know. I hope you're not intimidated by it."

He shook his head. "You still have some sauce right there."

When she looked down, he flicked her nose.

"That is so corny."

"You fell for it."

Her face scrunched up.

"You're going to get wrinkles if you keep doing that."

"You really shouldn't bring up wrinkles to a woman."

"I'm just looking out for your best interest."

Uh-huh." She suddenly realizes that he has moved a lot closer.

"I'll talk to you soon." He leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead and then left, leaving her a little surprised and disappointed. She pushed her way into the apartment and dialed Felix.

His sleepy voice answered in a few rings. "Hello."

"Are you awake?"

He smirked. "Do I sound like I am?"

Lucas chuckled from beside him.

He put her on speaker.

"Hi, Elizabeth."

She grinned. "Hey, Lucas. It's probably a good thing I didn't call a few minutes ago."

Felix gasps. "Are you insinuating what I think you are?"

"Hey, if the shoe fits."

Lucas laughs. "I missed you teasing him."

"I have a lot of time to make up for then," Liz said.

"You two are just so funny. Hey, why are you calling me instead of screaming Jason's name?"

"Wait, Jason who?" Lucas asked.

"The one and only hot hunk himself."

"You're tapping that?"

Elizabeth blushed. "I'm, unfortunately, not tapping anything."

"What happened?" Felix asked.

"We had a great time. I'm totally addicted to his bike and when Jason is not frowning, he's a pretty nice guy."

"I'm sensing a but…"

"When he walked me to my door, we bantered back and forth and then he kissed me on my forehead."

"Ouch," Lucas said.

"Exactly."

"Elizabeth, maybe he is taking things slow," Felix said.

"Or maybe he's not ready for the dreaded "r" word," Lucas said.

"Well, do you want to go on another date?"

"Yeah."

Lucas cuddled against Felix. "Well, next time, you kiss him good night."

She smirked. "He probably wouldn't be surprised."

Lucas frowned. "What am I missing?"

"Liz kind of tripped and her tongue miraculously went into his mouth."

Liz snickered. "Later." That visual will never get old.

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The next few days were hectic. The Brass and Sassy campaign is moving forward and Elizabeth signed her first big design campaign.

Nick peeked out the window of his sister's office.

"Who are you staring at?" Vicky asked.

"The cute little brunette."

She moved next to him and carefully lifted a blind to look. "Elizabeth? She's a consultant who's working on the new project and I'm trying to convince her to enter the contest."

"She has the most beautiful skin I've ever seen."

"Well, eyes off. She's taken."

He turned and quirked his brow.

"By who?"

"Jason, he just doesn't totally know it yet."

A wicked twinkle flickered in his eyes.

"Don't even think about it. You can't say anything to him."

"I wasn't planning on it. What time is he here?"

She looked at her watch. "He should be here any minute now."

"Watch this…"

He moved out of the office towards the desk Elizabeth is occupying. "Hello."

She glanced up. "Hi. You're Nicholas, right?" Victoria had a picture of him on her desk.

"Yes, you can call me Nick. I just wanted to welcome you aboard. My sister is excited to work with you."

Liz smiled and Nicholas's grew bigger at the sight. "I'm really happy to be here. Hopefully, we can come up with something great."

"What is your background?"

She told him about her company right as Jason entered the room, but she didn't notice as she proudly spoke.

"You should let me take you to lunch. Vicky will probably come too." He is going to make sure that she doesn't, because he could totally crush on Liz. If Jason isn't going to jump, then it's his loss.

Jason's eyes narrowed at his entered Vicky's office. "Is your brother interested in Elizabeth?" He can see the signs due to Nick's dreamy expression and how he leaned towards her.

"He's just welcoming her. Why? Did you get that vibe?"

"It's pretty obvious and he just asked her to lunch."

Victoria smiled. "Do you have a problem with that?"

"I—she's a grown woman and can do whatever she wants."

"And it doesn't bother you at all?" She stood and then left the office. "Here's your fob," she said handing it to Liz so she can get into the office after hours if necessary.

Liz took it and slipped it into her purse. "Thanks. Nick said you are coming to lunch with us."

"I would love to, but Jason and I are going to have a working lunch because he has to go over to ELQ this afternoon. Rain check?"

"Sure."

She left and Nicholas smiled.

"I guess it's just you and me. I'll make a reservation upstairs for 11:45."

"Sounds good. See ya then."

Another employee leaned over. "He is so cute and has such a hot bod. You are one lucky girl that he took interest in you."

Liz blushed. "I don't think he meant it like that."

"He hasn't asked anyone else out to lunch on their first day."

Liz is sure her face is a dark red.

"Lucky girl…" she said again before rolling back to her desk.

In the office, Victoria texts Nicholas to find out where he's taking Elizabeth to lunch and then tells him to make them another reservation for her fifteen minutes later and he happily obliges.

"So, we decided to go with Brashy. We already started tweeting, are you Brashy enough?"

"Sounds good."

"Elizabeth thinks she can have the campaign concept completely done in the next week and then it's up to our tech wizards to make it come alive." She had paid Liz a pretty penny to make sure she'll come back and work with them in the future.

"Will it be a conflict of interest to have her compete?"

"No, considering all the votes come from the public in the end, it won't be an issue."

"Has she agreed?"

Vicky shook her head. "Not yet, but I'm hopeful. I'm going to take her to the production studio so she can get a feel for what's to come."

"What do you need from me?"

"Well, for starters, I want to crunch some numbers for our budget. We can take a lunch break around noon and maybe discuss the end game."

"Okay."

They got to work and before they knew it, lunch time is here.

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Elizabeth ordered a grilled chicken salad and some iced tea.

Nick was a little more adventurous and got a loaded burger. "Since you're only getting a salad, don't think you can steal my fries."

She grinned. "I would have gladly chowed down on a burger, but I can't afford to be in a carb coma this afternoon."

"Ah, so you are not watching your girly figure?"

"Nah. I eat when I'm hungry."

"Is there anything bad about you? Cause I'm not seeing it."

Liz blushed right when Jason and Victoria walked into the restaurant and Jason is not amused. They sat and Victoria glanced around. "Oh, there's Nick and Elizabeth."

Jason nodded.

"I think he has a little crush on her."

"She's a great person."

"And very pretty, I think they are cute together." When he rolled his eyes she chuckled. "Too bad he doesn't have a chance against you."

Jason's head jerked up and his eyes narrowed. "Did you put him up to this?"

"Nope. He genuinely likes her. One of my employees said they saw you two at Eli's last night. Did you have fun?"

Jason shook his head. "Are you sure you're not spying on me."

"No, but I am very curious about you two."

"We had a nice time."

"I was hoping it was bad in a good way."

"You really need to concentrate on your own love life. What happened to Nikolas?"