Chapter Eight
Shutting the door softly behind her, Elizabeth quietly tiptoed down the marble steps of the Morgan villa. The sun was barely visible in the sky above her. Barefoot she padded across the cool morning white sand, towards the cluster of figures in courtyard between the middle of the two Caribbean villas. Stopping a few paces away from them, the young nanny listened to their conversation.
"What are you talking about?" Francis exclaimed at a smug Max. "They're doing good now, but once fall rolls around they'll be back at the bottom of the standings like they always are."
"Bull shit, you're just saying that," Max scoffed, "because your team isn't doing so hot right now."
Elizabeth frowned trying to figure out what they were talking about. She knew for sure it wasn't their door schedule for the day.
"Pfft," the older guard brushed the younger one off. "It's just like last year. They'll be back in tip top shape at the end of spring."
The young nanny's head began to spin as she tried to follow their conversations.
"Yeah right, all their best players are either on the D.L. or on the bench nursing their sore muscles. The Mets are going to the World Series this season and you know it."
"Come back to me in September and say that to my face and I'll laugh at you. You know as well as I do that the Yankees will be the only New York team to make it to the World Series."
Finally, she understood. Smacking her head, Elizabeth muttered, "Men and their games."
Her soft words drew the silent guard's attention to her
"Hey Ms. Webber," Adam called out, motioning for her to join them.
Elizabeth shook her head, trying to hide her smile. "I've asked you to call me Elizabeth over a hundred times, Adam," she scolded, joining them.
He smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, Elizabeth," he murmured, running a hand through his dark hair.
"I forgive you, just don't do it again," she said, failing to sound stern.
"I told you, Adam was a suck up," Max rolled his eyes.
"I'm starting to agree with that bozo," the oldest member of the now Four Musketeers said, flipping through the clipboard he held.
"I am not a suck up," the young musketeer objected.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," the Italian bodyguard chided.
Swallowing her giggles at their childish behavior, Elizabeth stepped into defend the newest member to their group. "Hey, leave Adam alone. He's a sweetheart unlike you two."
"Thanks," Adam said gratefully.
"You wound my heart," Francis murmured, placing a hand over his heart.
"We know you love us," Max smirked.
"Uh huh," Adam scoffed.
"Oh, shush all of you," Elizabeth said, laughter evident in her voice. "You know I love you all."
"Thought so," the oldest guard smiled proudly. "We know you love us, but I have a feeling that has nothing to do with your presence here at the crack of dawn."
In an instant, a blush began to spread over Elizabeth's cheeks.
The guards were right. It was the crack of dawn, a little past six o'clock to be exact. She had snuck out in her matching sky blue tank top and pajama bottoms with clouds on them before Jason could wake up for his routine laps at the beach and before Lil could come wake her up. She was being paranoid getting up at six in the morning, but she didn't want to have to explain herself since she knew she would ramble and give herself away. She needed to speak to the gang in the villa across the estate, but not while Jason or Lil were in the room and the only way she could in secret was by lurking around the property before the sun was fully up.
"Are they up yet?" She motioned with her head towards the Corinthos villa.
Her only response was laughter from the three guards.
"Sorry," Adam gasped, between laughs. "But since when does anyone besides the guards and Jason wake up at six? Especially Mrs. Corinthos and Ms. Quartermaine."
Max clutched at his sides as he tried to stay upright. "Even the new one knows that."
Regaining his breath, Francis said, "It's unnatural for them to be up this early."
A soft smile on his face, Adam politely asked, "Was there anything that you needed?"
Beginning to gnaw on her lower lip, Elizabeth contemplated what her next move would be. She really needed someone to talk to and get their perspective on the situation.
"Well, see…um…I think something's wrong."
Immediately, the guards snapped to attention.
"What's wrong Elizabeth?" Francis murmured, fully aware of their open surroundings.
She looked at each of their serious faces before speaking. "I think Jason has gone insane."
They stared at her blankly for a few moments before bursting into laughter again.
Slightly confused by their behavior, she asked, "What's wrong?"
They continued laughing.
"I'm being serious here," she stomped her barefoot in the sand to display her frustration.
Max fell onto the sand and continued laughing at the petite brunette.
"Elizabeth," Francis said, attempting to make a serious face, but he failed miserably. "Jason is possibly the sanest man to ever walk the face of the earth."
When Elizabeth's face only became more puzzled, Adam asked gently, "What happened Elizabeth?"
"Well," she began to fidget under their gaze. "He's acting odd."
Max frowned from his spot on the sandy ground. "How so?"
"He made me breakfast," she mumbled, folding her arms.
"What's wrong with that?" Francis asked. "I thought women liked it when men cooked for them, am I wrong?"
"My mom always said that," Adam concurred. "Treat a woman like a queen," he said quietly, helping Max off the ground.
"Of course you would, you're a mama's boy," Max drawled.
The Irish man went flying back to the ground.
"It's not just that," she muttered. "He took us to the beach too."
The guards frowned even more.
"And again what's wrong with that?"
Elizabeth sighed. "It's not that I don't appreciate that he's being nice, but it feels odd. It-It's so unlike him."
"Or maybe it's the real him?"
"That can't be," Elizabeth murmured, growing uncertain on what she knew. "The Jason Morgan I know leaves before I wake up, spends only time with his daughter and doesn't take me and Lil to the beach after cooking us chocolate chip pancakes." She took in a deep breath before continuing. "He doesn't speak to me or know that I exist. I feel like he's just doing this because-" Elizabeth stopped herself before she blurted everything out.
"Because of?" Max urged her to go on from his spot on the sand; he had chosen to give up on getting up.
"Does it have anything to do with the fact that you quit?" The youngest guard asked without hesitation.
The young nanny shuffled her feet growing nervous. "I think so. It's like he's trying to make up for the other night or get me to change my mind. I don't understand it, but I have this feeling he's doing it to get something in return."
All the guards frowned at her.
"Why would you think that?" Francis asked, sensing that Elizabeth was keeping something from them other than the fact that she and Jason had kissed and she had misinterpreted his excuses for not wanting a relationship with her. Brenda had immediately informed him of the situation after Jason had left the Corinthos villa.
Elizabeth plopped down onto the sand beside Max and leaned against him, her shoulders falling in exhaustion. "It's the only thing I can think of that he'd treat me differently for." Thoughts of a past relationship came to the young brunette's mind. A relationship that had only left her in pieces in the end.
Wrapping a protective arm around her, Max pulled her close. "Jason's not like that. He'd never use people, especially those that are closest to him."
"Elizabeth," Adam squatted down to her eye level. "Honestly, do you think that Jason would want something in return for his kindness?"
"No, I just…"
"You just what?" Francis murmured, sitting down on the sand himself.
She sighed heavily. "I just don't want to get hurt…" Again. She only had a few days remaining with Lil and her father and she had planned to enjoy those few days. But after they had returned to the villa last night and Sonny's hand prepared meal had welcomed them, a feeling began to nag at her heart. Jason setting the table and serving them had only strengthened the feeling in her. The feeling of fear.
Jason's abrupt change in behavior worried her. She didn't want to be used again especially by a man as powerful as her boss. Being used once in her life was enough. She didn't want to think ill of Jason, but after their kiss and his change in demeanor, she was scared that he wanted something in return. Something she wasn't willing to give.
The three musketeers surrounding her watched anxiously as she thought. They had all come to love her as a sister and were protective enough of her to go toe to toe with their boss.
"Shortie," Francis waited for Elizabeth to meet his gaze. Once her blue eyes met his soft brown ones, he smiled at her softly. "Answer this for me: as long as you've known Jason have you ever seen him do anything he didn't want to?"
The answer came automatically. "No." Jason did what he thought was right.
"Have you ever seen him intentionally hurt someone he cared for?"
"He doesn't care about-"
Francis put an end to Elizabeth's objection with a single motion of his hand. "Answer the question."
"No."
"Did you hate spending time with Jason and Lil yesterday?"
"Absolutely not." The day had been relaxing and wonderful. "I loved spending time with them."
"Then what are you worried about?" the older bodyguard exclaimed.
A shameful blush began to spread on Elizabeth's face as she realized that she was being silly and allowing her past to influence her life. "I guess nothing," the young nanny mumbled.
"Good," Francis sighed. "So stop being a worry wart and enjoy the rest of your time on the island."
"Get a tan while you're at it," Max ordered her. "You're too pale. Need to add some color to your freakishly pale skin."
Elizabeth giggled, leaning her head against his shoulder.
Adam offhandedly checked his watch. "Damn," he muttered. None of them had had noticed the sun creeping further west. "It's almost seven," the young guard informed the group. "Jason will be leaving to swim in a few minutes."
Helping Elizabeth off the ground, Francis gave her a quick hug. "Get back in the house before Morgan catches you."
"I will."
Giving the others warm hugs, Elizabeth scurried away to come to a quick stop after a few paces. "Guys?" She waited a moment for all of their attention. "Thank you for listening."
The three members of the now Four Musketeers smiled back in response. They all waited until Elizabeth was safely back in the house before exchanging high fives.
Adam and Max happily mused over the progress of the situation as Francis wistfully dialed a familiar number on his cell phone. He waited patiently for the receiver to pick up. Finally, a groggy voice filtered through the hearing piece.
"Morgan: One. Webber: Zero."
