Where Loyalties Lie
"The only people I owe my loyalty to are those that never made me question theirs."
Sitting up in bed alone, Elizabeth felt his absence now more than ever, knowing that he was out there doing something that could potentially put his life in danger. He wouldn't be so insistent about her staying there if there wasn't something to worry about. Letting out a deep sigh, she wonders just what happened and if there's anything that she could do for him. She knows he's not alone in this, but she just wishes there was something for her to do, anything, to ease his burden.
"Hey," Emily voices from the doorway, a soft smile on her face. "Breakfast is on the table if you're hungry."
"Thanks," Elizabeth replies softly, her mind still consumed with her fear for Jason. "I'm not really hungry."
"He's gonna be okay," Emily comments as she walks over to sit down on the bed. "Try not to worry."
"That's easier said than done," Elizabeth points out though a smile still touches her lips. "But maybe I'll take you up on that breakfast."
"Great," Emily replies. "Everything's set up in the family room. I'll see you downstairs."
"Okay."
Watching Emily walk out of the room, Elizabeth lets out a deep sigh, knowing that Emily's heart truly is in the right place, but finding it impossible not to worry. Pulling herself out of bed, Elizabeth takes a quick shower before heading downstairs to the family room. Thankfully, the rest of the family has already left for the day, finding it easier to just have Emily in the room. She appreciates all they've done, but she's just not used to having so many people care about her well being. It's gonna take some getting used to.
Walking into the meeting with Maximus, he wasn't sure what to expect, but he knows that he'll have a harder fight on his hands if Giambetti doesn't side with him. The history that stands between Maximus and Sonny is a long standing one, but he has to hope that logic will rule over history. Maximus, like everyone else in their world, doesn't take lightly to being betrayed. He just hopes that Maximus's sympathy for his situation will ultimately lead to the man giving him the backing he needs to end this thing between him and Sonny once and for all.
"That's quite the case you've put together," Maximus voices once Jason lays his cards on the table. "But you must see my position in all of this. I can't very well just take your word on this."
"I wouldn't expect you to," Jason replies simply. "Thank you for hearing me out, at least."
"Stay, have some breakfast, my staff will see that you have anything you need while you wait," Maximus says after a moment. "Corinthos has also called for a meeting. I suspect that he'll have a similar request. Once I've heard his side, I'll make my decision. I believe that's a fair arrangement for all parties."
"Understood," Jason replies without contest, knowing he's ever the diplomat. "I'll take you up on that breakfast."
"Smart man," Maximus says with a slight smile, pressing the intercom. "Enter."
The doors open instantly before one of Giambetti's staff shows him to the dining hall where the breakfast buffet has been situated. Jason knows that he's taking a risk by staying when Sonny will soon be in the same building as him, not knowing if Maximus will alert Sonny to his presence, but it was a risk he had to take. In order to take Sonny out for good, he needs Maximus to grant him the kill order and that won't happen unless he plays his cards right. So, with no other choice in the matter, Jason takes a seat at the table and does as he's been told.
"Sir, Mr. Corinthos has arrived," his butler announces a short while later. "Shall I show him in?"
"Show him in," Maximus states. "Be sure we aren't disturbed."
"Yes, sir," his butler replies. "As you wish."
It took everything to hide the satisfied smirk from his lips as Sonny Corinthos walks in looking subtly disheveled. He doesn't normally take pleasure in seeing another man come undone, but this particular instance has been years in the making. Corinthos has slid by on technicalities, bending the rules as far as it can be bent without breaking it, but enough is enough.
If not for Jason, Corinthos would have been taken out long ago, but having the perfect enforcer meant having no proof to make a definitive ruling on it. With Sonny's shield becoming the weapon of his destruction, Maximus is more than ready to give his ruling and see this man's world crumble down around him.
That aside, he still had a job to do, playing the diplomat and hearing both sides to the story. Regardless of knowing the truth, Maximus sits stoic and hears Sonny ramble on about the way things have unfolded. Playing on his promise to Spencer to protect his family. A promise that Jason was supposedly supposed to uphold as Sonny's enforcer. Going after someone under Sonny's protection is a betrayal that Sonny can't stand for.
"Does that conclude your request?" Maximus questions when it seems that he's stopped explaining. "Because if it does, I can quite easily say, your request has been denied."
"Denied?" Sonny looks at him baffled. "Did you not hear a thing I've said? He betrayed me!"
"If you can't handle the betrayal of one enforcer, do you even deserve to be the head of an organization?" Maximus counters calmly. "I've looked into the state of your business and, from where I stand, it looks more like Jason Morgan is the head of the organization rather than you, Corinthos."
"That's a lie!" Sonny snaps. "I am the head of my organization! ME! And as a head of an organization, it is the duty of the five families to aide me!"
"When warranted, yes, the five families are obligated to assist to ensure the balance remain within our ranks," Maximus accepts. "But let's do a checklist, shall we? If the scales tip in your favor, I'll approve your request for assistance."
"Fine!" Sonny states. "Get on with it."
"Who, between the two of you, handles shipment routes and logbooks?" Maximus questions, continuing on when Sonny doesn't answer. "Do you handle payroll? Accounts? Negotiations between organizations? Do you oversee any of those?"
"What is your point?" Sonny blurts out in frustration. "That's what I had Jason for! He was my top enforcer!"
"The job of an enforcer is to protect you and your assets against any who threaten it," Maximus explains plainly. "The job of the head of the organization is to run the organization. If the organization can run without you, you clearly are not the head of it."
"I am the head of my organization!" Sonny growls. "Jason is nothing! My organization got along fine before him and it will be fine without him!"
"If that's what you believe, I suggest you prove it," Maximus counters with ease. "Prove you're the boss you claim to be and handle your own problems! Dismissed."
Watching the man debate whether to continue the argument or accept the ruling, Maximus smirks to himself when Sonny storms out of the estate, clearly he was not taking this well. A part of him wanted to tell Sonny to get Luke Spencer to help him out of this situation since it was Sonny's loyalty to him that got the man in this situation to begin with. If it were on Maximus, he wouldn't have risked such an essential asset as Jason for an old, worthless, friendship such as Spencer, but clearly Sonny wasn't Maximus.
"How's the breakfast?" Maximus questions Jason when he enters the dining hall and takes a seat across from him. "My staff tends to overdo themselves when I make it stateside."
"Most likely proving their worth," Jason says simply. "They're worth their pay."
"Yes, I believe so, as well," Maximus agrees with a slight smile. "How about some dessert while we talk?"
"Sure," Jason accepts, thanking the staff as they set down the chocolate dessert in front of him. "I take it you've made your decision."
"I have," Maximus admits. "But I have a question to ask, if you don't mind."
"Ask."
"Why only ask for approval?" Maximus questions curiously. "Why not ask for assistance? Hell, why not ask me to handle the situation?"
"I fight my own battles," Jason states plainly. "I also live by the rules of our world."
"And if I were to deny your request?" Maximus questions curiously. "What would you do then?"
"The next best thing," Jason says plainly. "Make him wish for it."
"Spoken like a true boss," Maximus smirks slightly. "Very well, you've got your kill order on one condition."
"Being?"
"In exchange, I ask that you watch out for my boys," Maximus says seriously. "This is by no means permanent. Just until they feel ready to return to my organization."
"You have my word," Jason assures without hesitation. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me," Maximus shakes his head. "You understand what happens when you do this, don't you?"
"I understand," Jason replies. "I can handle it."
"Good," Maximus says simply. "Let's enjoy our desserts before you take your leave."
Talking to Jason, he has gained a better understanding of the man he will soon be doing business with and he has to say that he's even more impressed than he thought he'd be. Clearly he's changed quite a lot since the last time that he dealt with the man and it was definitely a good change. With this meeting concluded, he has high hopes for what's to come, a new era in the way business is handled. Good. With his boys taking over, it's better this way, bringing their business into a whole new existence.
Meanwhile, Sonny's world has begun to crash down around him, his coffee business has been shut down due to tainted shipments. The amount of money it'll take to make up for the loss is too much for him to fathom. Which wouldn't be a problem if his accounts hadn't been drained completely. Every time he thinks he's ahead of the curve, the farther behind he seems to be, losing one account after another. Stan was the best in his field, he made sure of it, but clearly Jason has found a hacker of his own.
He didn't want to put it out there, but the deal with Maximus was supposed to be his saving grace. If he had gotten the backing of the five families he would have been able to gain all his assets back. Jason would see what he was up against and he would have cowered beneath the weight of the crime world. Sonny would have his business back and Jason would be dead, end of story. Damn Giambetti and his ability to turn each situation on its head. Why couldn't he just approve the damn request and let things return to the way it was meant to be?
Locked away in his penthouse, he tries to think of his next move, if he even had one to make. He could try to take Jason by force, but that would be damn near suicidal. Somehow he's taken the loyalty of all his top ranking men, none of them remaining by his side, the ones remaining can barely handle a gun. How could he let his world end up like this? How could he have been so damn careless.
As the chips stack, the end clearly in site, it was looking more and more like he had one of two options. Risk it all and take Jason on or...glancing at his weapon, the thought settles into his mind...could he really do this? The great infamous Sonny Corinthos forced to end the same way as the man who held his position before him? This couldn't be it...could it?