ABC/DISNEY owns GH. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 34
"Welcome to Hollywood." Liz looked over her shoulder and grinned at Nadine who was sitting in the back seat with Michael and Lee. Behind their car was a second vehicle with the rest of the crew, except for Rory who was at the house with the baby proofing company. He had grown up in California and the city was one he had visited before so he volunteered to stay behind. "What would you like to see first?"
"What do you recommend?" Nadine didn't want to hog the day. When Liz said that they were going into LA and she was going to play tour guide Nadine got excited. Then she and Georgie both looked stunned when Liz said the day was all about them. She had been to Hollywood plenty of times and the guys were just along to keep the ladies safe.
"You pick the first stop, and Georgie can pick the next one. Then it will be your turn again." Liz said naming an easy solution to that problem.
"How about Grauman's Chinese Theater?" Nadine had always wanted to see that.
"That is the perfect place to start our tourist activities." Liz said nodding. She sent a text to Milo so he could tell Marco. "Jason hang a left at the next light." They wouldn't even need to use the GPS. "At some point today I should call Felix and tell him I'm in town. He's been calling me since the news about the wedding broke." She'd been avoiding him because she knew she was getting a lecture.
"Is he going to want to get together here?" Jason wanted to meet his wife's agent. She talked about him often, and it was clear she really liked him. Jason wasn't jealous, but meeting Felix would be like meeting another member of her family.
"No, he'll come to Malibu." Elizabeth said watching the neighborhood go by. "He'll also want to go to dinner because you're here. Celebrating the marriage will be his excuse. He's always trying to get me out of the house." She said with a grin. "I'll suggest somewhere casual, which out here means nice pants, a dress shirt, but no tie."
"We can stay in. Everyone can give us space." Jason let her know.
"Nope, we are going out. If I let him think he's won then I won't have to go out for another few years." Liz said with a wide smile. "Besides you are a great cover. The paparazzi will assume Felix is meeting you to discuss business and that I am along for the meal."
"Considering my reputation I don't think I'm the type of business partner he wants." Jason said with a wry grin.
"Please. You are like a boy scout compared to some of the people out here. This business is brutal. It's why I avoid it and stick to print." She let him know. Although the higher her star rose the more pressure she would get to branch out. She also knew that her marriage to Jason increased the odds her alter ego would be exposed. Liz trusted the guys would keep her safe. "You can park up there and we'll walk over."
Jason followed her instructions and once they were parked he got the stroller out of the back. All the baby items arrived this morning before they left, but the stroller they had brought with them from Port Charles. The head of the Davidson family offered to send a crew to help with assembly and furniture moving. Jason said they would be fine. Which was true, they had more than enough hands.
"I'm so excited to see all the hand prints in front of the theater." Georgie said as they started walking. "This was at the top of my list of places to visit."
"What's number two?" Liz asked before explaining how they were picking what to visit.
"Madame Tussauds." Georgie said with an unrepentant grin. "I am pretty sure that is as close to Hugh Jackman as I'm ever going to get. Unless you know him. Now would be a good time to speak up if that is the case." Georgie requested with an expectant look. Her boyfriend knew of her lust for the Australian star and Milo had promised to not get in the way should they ever actually meet him.
"Sorry no." Liz said laughing. "I don't actually know any celebrities. Except Brenda, I guess." She said shrugging. "I'll ask Felix, maybe he can make that introduction happen. Here we are." Liz said as they stopped by the theater. Like always the sidewalk was crowded with tourists taking pictures and looking for their favorite star.
"They screened Star Wars here." Milo was reading information about the site on his phone. "There are 200 handprints, footprints, or autographs. The screen inside is now IMAX, and they have the largest seating capacity of any such theater in the world. Not the largest screen though, that's in Australia."
"Liz I think Milo is after your job." Marco said chuckling.
"He can certainly have it. Of course when we get to the wax museum he'll be too busy trying to keep his girlfriend from stealing Hugh Jackman to give out facts." Liz said ribbing Milo some.
"Who did they find?" Jason saw the ladies taking a selfie.
"The Harry Potter section." Liz told her guy. "I know because the last time I was here I stood on Daniel Radcliffe's wand print while Felix talked to another agent. I was his plus one at a private screening." She further explained. "Georgie is a big fan of the books. We should get them to read to Michael as he gets older."
"I took a picture of Anthony Quinn's square for my Aunt." Nadine said smiling. "She's going to love that."
"Inside they hang some of the practice blocks as decoration." Liz let them know. "This might be a good place to come watch a film on a night off." They had plenty of time for a return trip. If it didn't happen this go round the next time they were in the state it could. "Just make sure you check the website so that you don't get down here to find it closed for a private event." Everyone nodded.
"All done?" Milo asked his girlfriend. He was looking forward to seeing the pictures she snapped. Like her he was a Harry Potter fan, which is why they spent their last vacation at Universal Studios.
"Yeah, it's crowded." Georgie knew that would make the guys uneasy. Plus they were outside which meant they were exposed.
"How about we head over to the museum then?" Liz asked everyone. When she got a chorus of agreements they headed back to the cars. While yes it was crowded, the number of folks milling about was only going to increase as the day went on so it was good they came here first.
"It's James Bond. Plural." Nadine said looking at the life like figures. This exhibit was temporary so they had lucked out. In a few weeks they wax statues would be moving to another one of the Tussauds locations.
"Are you a fan?" Liz wanted to know.
"You can't live in England and not be a fan. It's a law." Nadine said laughing. "I have seen fist fights breakout during arguments over who was the best Bond. Without alcohol being involved."
"Okay then." Liz wasn't a big fan of the franchise but she had seen some of the movies growing up. "Why don't you explore and we'll take the munchkin. He's due to eat shortly."
"I don't mind." Nadine told her boss.
"I know." Liz made that clear. "Go, have fun." She said pushing Michael to an area with a bench. It was recessed some which would give them privacy.
Jason followed her over and sat down. "I can round everyone up and we can leave." He let her know. She wasn't enjoying this stop.
"Sitting here is fine." Liz should have known he would pick up on her unease. "It's silly, but this place just freaks me out. The figures are so life like and they are all standing there staring at you. I clearly watched one too many horror movies growing up." She said getting a bottle from the diaper bag. The baby got a fresh diaper right after they arrived.
"I thought you would like it here because of the skill it takes to make all the figures." Jason watched her immerse herself in artist displays if they were at the art museum back home.
"I have incredible respect for the skill this takes. The hours of work that go into each statues. The wigs, the paint used on the faces, and the tailored clothing. It's all incredible. I once saw a documentary on the process and it was fascinating. Every single time I come here I get freaked out." She said scooping up Michael and giving him the bottle.
"How many times have you come?" Jason asked her. He loved watching her with Michael.
"This is trip number four. The first was as a tourist. The second was when a friend from college came down to visit while I was staying with Brenda." Liz wished she could visit with her friend, but they were not home this week. "The third time was when Brenda got her figure."
"Brenda has a figure in here?" Jason couldn't imagine the ego trip that had been.
"She has the record for the most magazine covers in one year, as well as the record for the top searched female celebrity three years running." Liz said trying not to laugh. "She is also one of the highest paid models on the planet. The museum held an online vote between her and three other celebrities to see who got in. Brenda crushed the competition. Her figure is in the A-List Party room."
"No comment." Jason wondered if the model had asked them to make an extra figure so she could take it home. It seemed like something she would do. "So where do you think we will end up next?"
"I'd guess either Rodeo Drive, or a studio tour." Liz said grinning down at the baby before looking at Jason. "I don't know what Nadine makes, but I pay Georgie enough that she can do some damage in any one of the stores along that famous street." Her assistant's spending power was helped by the fact that she didn't have much overhead in terms of living expenses. Milo's position meant a free apartment.
"Bernie has a list of household expenses if you want to know." Jason reviewed the books each month, but his accountant paid all the bills and staff salaries.
"It's fine." Liz knew that Jason would be more than generous with Nadine's pay rate. His housekeeper had been working ten and twelve hour days cleaning houses when he first hired her. As a single mom she needed to provide for her children. He told Bernie to raise her pay so that he was her only client. That way she could be home with her family and not out working all the time. Jason even gave her health benefits so that she didn't have to worry about that.
"When can I take you out to dinner? Just the two of us?" Jason wanted to know.
"Whenever you like." Liz smiled over at him. "If we go to Rodeo Drive I can pick up some dresses as well. Not that I need to, I've just never shopped in any of the boutiques."
"You can decide if that's needed. You'll be beautiful no matter what." Jason said with a grin. She would plan their night out in Malibu with her agent, and he would plan something for them when they returned to Port Charles.
"Okay." Liz couldn't wait to see what he planned.
"Hello Edward." Jasper Jacks stopped and smiled at the older man. The hostess continued and placed a paper on his table so he would know where to go. The older man had been out of town, and now he was back.
"What are you doing here?" Edward gave a glare that looked a lot like Jason's. "This club is for members only."
"I am a member." Jasper said grinning. Edward had been looking into Quartermaine International since last week, so it was a good time for this talk. Namely because Jax wanted to see the look on the older man's face when he learned the news. "I was invited to join last week."
"I don't recall hearing about that." Edward was going to have to talk to Malcolm Barrington about this. There was no way Jacks should have been extended an invitation. This club was for respectable Port Charles business owners. "The owner of a back alley bar is not someone who should be roaming these halls."
"You must be slipping." Jax said with a sly smile. "I thought you kept your finger on the pulse of the business world. I can't imagine that news ever gets by you."
"What are you talking about?" Edward asked narrowing his eyes. "Nothing happens in the business world that I don't know about." He hated to be considered irrelevant.
"So you knew about AJ starting his own business. A business that I now own half of?" Jax and Jason had decided that an even split was the best for now, instead of Jax taking the bigger share. The deal for Jax to purchase the company was still in place.
Edward didn't let the shock of that statement come through on his face. He was having trouble finding out just who held the minority shares of the company. A search of the shareholders simply lead to holding companies based out of the country. From that point the paperwork got muddled. Whoever did the filing was a master. "So Jason is no longer involved in his brother's company?" That was bad because Edward was hoping his grandson's reputation would be another way to get a hold of stock. Dirty money made the SEC break out in hives.
"No." Jax said stretching the truth. While Jason owned stocks he didn't make decisions so it was only a half lie. "With the bulk of my holdings now in the United States I will be moving the company headquarters to New York, and out of Melbourne."
"You're coming to Port Charles?" Edward could work with that. Someone on Jax's staff could surely be bought.
"I certainly am." Jax said smiling. He already had a staff member who was ready to take the bribe Edward offered, if they got that far. Some bad information fed to the older man would keep him chasing his tail. Jason's guy in ELQ would then have room to work unsupervised. Jax was the distraction and he was going to play the role to the hilt. He would stay in Edward's face. "So we will get to see one another often. I plan to be a regular here at the club." Edward often ate lunch at the Port Charles Gentleman's club, mainly because he could eat items that his doctors wouldn't approve of.
"I'm sure that we will." Edward was going to have a front row seat to watching Jax lose his new company. Jason might have stood a chance of winning but not Jasper Jacks. Edward had destroyed John Jacks, and his son was going to go the same way.
"Give my best to your lovely wife." Jax said finally walking to his table. He would send Jason an email so that he was up to date on what was going on, and wait for Edward to make a move.
At his table Edward pulled out his cell phone. "What have you found?"
"Not much." Brian told his boss. "I'm following the paper trail that was used to establish the company. There are a lot of strings to tug on."
"I want you to stop that for the moment and look into the sale of half of my grandson's company to Jasper Jacks." Edward told his assistant. "I want all the information you can get on Jasper, personal and professional."
"I'll have a report for you as soon as possible." Brian told his boss.
"Good. Check in with Logan and see how that is going." Edward said before hanging up the phone. Throwing his napkin down on the table he got up and walked from the dining room. He wanted to go find Malcolm and get Jax's membership revoked.
They had a great day in Hollywood. After leaving Tussauds they hit up the Hollywood Walk of Fame. That was followed by a visit to the Hollywood sign. Lunch was at the historic Polo Lounge where Nadine and Georgie did get to see several celebrities. After the mid-day meal they toured the Hollyhock House because she thought Jason might like it. A Frank Lloyd Wright house couldn't be passed up. After that the group took a stroll down Rodeo Drive. No one made any purchases though and Georgie almost passed out when she saw the five hundred dollar jeans in the window. Mainly because Maxie had two pairs.
They finished their Hollywood adventure at the Griffin Observatory where they got to watch the sunset. "So did everyone have a good time?" Liz asked as they headed to the cars.
"This was great." Georgie appreciated that Liz would take time from her honeymoon to take them around for the day.
"I can cross this off my travel wish list." Nadine said smiling. It had been a fun day. "I have to admit that I feel like I horned in on your honeymoon. You and Jason should be spending all this time ignoring everyone."
"This is not the typical honeymoon." Liz could admit that. "As new parents we wouldn't have felt comfortable leaving Michael at home. We also aren't super confident in our skills yet. The guys always travel with Jason." She meant the guards. "Since you guys are here, we may as well do some fun stuff. I imagine that at some point next year we'll go away with less of an entourage, right now it just wouldn't work. Tomorrow we are going to spend the day out of the house so that should help with your guilt." She said smiling. Part of that out of the house would be spent on the beach.
"Good." Georgie said before getting in the car.
Nadine got Michael situated before also getting in the car, and Liz got in the front seat as her phone rang. "Hello."
"You got married!" Felix said instead of a greeting.
"Hi Felix." Liz said looking over at her husband with a smile. "How are things?"
"Don't even." Felix told his client.
Liz tried not to laugh. "How about you come to the house tomorrow night and we'll go out to dinner so I can introduce you to Jason."
"You want to go out to dinner? In a restaurant. You are volunteering to ditch your jeans?" Felix wanted to be clear. "You never want to go out. I like Jason already. Also let me say, damn he's fine!"
Liz gave up and laughed. "Yes, yes, and wait until you see him in person." Jason looked over and she smiled.
"I'll make reservations." Felix told her. He was going to get the entire story before the meal was over.
"Somewhere casual." Liz made the request.
"I don't do casual." Felix thought she of all people would know that.
"Jason doesn't like ties." Liz explained why she said that.
"Then tell him not to wear one." Felix replied grinning. He had looked up Jason Morgan and Liz had snared herself a bad boy. A really hot bad boy. "No one will give him a hard time." Felix had enough pull that breaking the dress code at a restaurant was not a problem. "I'll call tomorrow with the deets."
"Call Georgie, she's with me. I won't be answering the phone." Liz told her agent.
"How Hollywood of you, vacationing with your assistant." Felix said laughing. "I think Brenda is rubbing off on you." No such thing was true but he liked messing with Liz. "Tomorrow."
"Yup. Tomorrow." Liz said ending the call. "Felix is taking us to dinner. Hopefully we will survive it." Her smile was super bright.
"We have guards, so we will be fine." Jason was actually looking forward to going out.
"I'm not sure Marco or Rory is a match for Felix." Liz said laughing again. "Now I just have to wait for Brenda and Steven to call. She will be gone for another three weeks, and I have no idea when my brother is returning home. I hope he's having fun." Looking out the window Liz watched as they got on the highway heading back to Malibu. Tomorrow she was going to get some private time with her guy, and then introduce Jason to Felix. Should be a great day.
Thanks for the reviews!