Chapter 10
Elizabeth couldn't stop smiling. She couldn't see how life could get any better. Her career was blossoming and so was her relationship with Jason. She paused in front of the coffee shop to reflect on the wonder of Jason's love for her. After all this time, after all of her mixed signals, confusion, and rejection, that he still loved her was a beautiful gift - one that she would treasure and nurture for as long as he would let her. Hopefully, it would be for a very long time.
As she entered the shop, Elizabeth nearly collided with an exiting customer. "Excuse me," she said automatically.
"Hello, again," the man offered. "We met at Jake's last night. Do you remember me?"
Taking a good look, she recognized the stranger at the bar from the night before. He was smiling anxiously at her, as if anticipating a negative response. She smiled warmly and answered, "Yes, of course. I'm sorry that I almost ran you down. I was just hurrying to get my morning coffee and get to work."
"No harm done. I am fine. My name is Alex, by the way." He held out his hand and she shook it.
"I'm Elizabeth, and I'm late, so I'd better go. Nice to see you again." With that, she paid for her coffee and left, thoughts of her new acquaintance quickly supplanted by work-related ones.
Alex watched her until she was out of sight, thinking of his plans and how to bring them to fruition.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sonny and Carly were sitting closely on the sofa, his hand resting lovingly on her slightly rounded stomach. Leaning against her husband, Carly knew that she had waited all her life to find the happiness and trust that she had found with Sonny. Sharing this new baby with him was completing and expanding their love in a way she could never have imagined.
"What's that smile for?" Sonny asked gently.
"I'm just happy, Sonny. Now that the danger of losing the baby has passed, I feel so blessed to have you, Michael, and now this child." Abruptly her good mood faded, as she remembered how troubled Jason's life was at the moment.
Sonny could sense her change of mood and questioned it. "What's wrong, Carly?"
She sighed and responded, "I'm worried about Jason. I know that it's worse for Michelle, but I can't help thinking that he will take this on himself too much. Do you think we can do anything to help?"
"Just be his friend and try not to worry." He knew how close they had come to losing another child, and he didn't want his wife under any added stress. The thought of losing her, or this baby, caused him to tighten his arms around her. His family meant everything to him. "I'll do whatever I can to help Jason and Michelle," he promised.
There was a knock at the door and Sonny called, "Come in." Jason entered, looking exhausted. He sat in a chair facing Sonny and Carly, and sighed heavily. "Did you get any sleep?" Sonny asked in concern.
"No," Jason answered. The bleak look in his eyes showed his friends how difficult his night had been. "I hope I never have to do anything like that again."
Jason seemed to fade out, as he remembered Michelle's distress at the news he had given her. Her grief over her stepfather's death had made her inconsolable. At the very idea that her stepbrother could be dead, she had become hysterical.
"Are you OK, Jason?" Carly asked. "Can we help?"
He broke out of his thoughts and answered, "Yeah. I'll be all right. It's Michelle that I'm worried about. She was so upset I had to call a doctor. He gave her a sedative and she's sleeping now." He sounded discouraged. "She won't even consider that Philippe could be dead, Sonny. She lost it when I mentioned the possibility."
Sonny could sympathize with his friend's frustration. "Well, she could be right. They haven't found a body yet. Of course, the longer he's missing, the greater the chance that he's been dumped somewhere." He paused and turned to his wife. "Carly, Jason and I have some things to discuss and I know that you have a meeting with Laura, so..."
"I can take a hint." She leaned over and kissed Sonny good-bye. Then she turned to Jason and said, "I'm really sorry about all this, Jason. I wish I could help in some way. Maybe when I get back, I could sit with Michelle for a while, and let you get out."
Carly's offer meant a lot to him. "Thanks, Carly. That would be a big help." He smiled reassuringly at her. She touched his cheek, grabbed her purse, and left.
"There's something you should know, Jason," Sonny said. "If Philippe Lafontaine is alive, he will probably come here."
"Why would he do that?" Jason asked, bewildered.
"I spoke with Jules Lafontaine not long before you came home," Sonny explained. "He knew something major was brewing, and he was worried about his son. He was relieved that Michelle was leaving the country with you, but he knew that Philippe wouldn't leave him alone to face the crisis. When we spoke, he asked me to look out for Philippe, and he said that he would tell his son to come to me, if anything happened to him. Jules Lafontaine was an honorable man, Jason, and I'll do whatever I can to help his family."
Jason was impressed with his friend's loyalty and compassion. "I know you will, Sonny. Let me know if you hear anything about Philippe." He stood and rubbed his neck wearily. "I left Johnny at the penthouse, in case Michelle wakes up. I am going to go and see Chloe. I think she may be able to help."
As Jason entered the elevator, he knew that, while he was going to see Chloe for Michelle's sake, he was hoping to see Elizabeth for his own.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Elizabeth had spent the morning helping Chloe with preparations for the spring line showing. Chloe had decided hold it in Port Charles and had invited the New York fashion critics to attend. It was a risk, but they were both excited about it.
"Elizabeth, I spoke with Laura and Carly, and they have agreed to let Gia model some designs for us," explained Chloe. "She's coming today for a fitting and I think your coral silk dress would look fabulous on her. I know that Nikki was supposed to wear it, but do you think you could fit Gia for it?" Chloe knew she was expecting a lot from Elizabeth, but she was confident that she could handle it.
"Yes, I can alter the dress for Gia. I think she'll look great in it, too," enthused Elizabeth. She was thriving on the extra responsibility that Chloe was giving her.
As she was jotting down some notes, the door opened and Jason walked in. Elizabeth felt her heart flutter at the sight of him. She smiled warmly, but it faltered when she got a better look at him. The sadness in his beautiful eyes told her that something was terribly wrong.
Jason smiled at Elizabeth wanly, glad that she was here. Then he turned to Chloe and said, "Could I talk to you, Chloe? There's something I think you should know."
"Yes, of course, Jason," Chloe responded with concern. "What's wrong?"
"There is no easy way to tell you this, so I'm just going to say it." He paused and breathed deeply. "Michelle's stepfather is dead and Philippe is missing."
Chloe paled visibly and Jason reached out to steady her. "What happened?" she whispered.
"There was a takeover of Lafontaine's operation and he was killed. We don't have many details yet, but Philippe has disappeared." He knew that Chloe had been close to the Lafontaine family and that this was hard for her.
Pulling herself together, she asked, "How is Michelle? She must be devastated. Do you think she would see me?"
Jason sighed in relief. "She's in pretty bad shape, but I think seeing you would really help."
"I'll go right now," she offered, as she gathered her things.
"Thanks, Chloe," he said quietly.
"Thank you for telling me, Jason." She smiled sadly. "It was much kinder this way, than hearing it on the news." Then she was gone.
Jason turned to Elizabeth, whose heart was aching for everyone involved. She went to him and put her arms around him, offering comfort.
He wrapped his arms around her and clung to her like a lifeline. He loved and needed her more than ever. Having her here in his arms made his problems fade and gave him the strength to face what was coming.
Pulling back slightly, Jason looked into her beautiful face and said, "I need you, Elizabeth." His voice was thick with the strength of his emotions.
Awed by the depth of love she saw in his eyes, she responded huskily, "I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere. I love you, Jason. Let me take care of you for a change."
As he leaned in and kissed her gently, then with increasing intensity, Elizabeth responded, holding nothing back, knowing her love was safe in Jason's keeping.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Elizabeth couldn't stop smiling. She couldn't see how life could get any better. Her career was blossoming and so was her relationship with Jason. She paused in front of the coffee shop to reflect on the wonder of Jason's love for her. After all this time, after all of her mixed signals, confusion, and rejection, that he still loved her was a beautiful gift - one that she would treasure and nurture for as long as he would let her. Hopefully, it would be for a very long time.
As she entered the shop, Elizabeth nearly collided with an exiting customer. "Excuse me," she said automatically.
"Hello, again," the man offered. "We met at Jake's last night. Do you remember me?"
Taking a good look, she recognized the stranger at the bar from the night before. He was smiling anxiously at her, as if anticipating a negative response. She smiled warmly and answered, "Yes, of course. I'm sorry that I almost ran you down. I was just hurrying to get my morning coffee and get to work."
"No harm done. I am fine. My name is Alex, by the way." He held out his hand and she shook it.
"I'm Elizabeth, and I'm late, so I'd better go. Nice to see you again." With that, she paid for her coffee and left, thoughts of her new acquaintance quickly supplanted by work-related ones.
Alex watched her until she was out of sight, thinking of his plans and how to bring them to fruition.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sonny and Carly were sitting closely on the sofa, his hand resting lovingly on her slightly rounded stomach. Leaning against her husband, Carly knew that she had waited all her life to find the happiness and trust that she had found with Sonny. Sharing this new baby with him was completing and expanding their love in a way she could never have imagined.
"What's that smile for?" Sonny asked gently.
"I'm just happy, Sonny. Now that the danger of losing the baby has passed, I feel so blessed to have you, Michael, and now this child." Abruptly her good mood faded, as she remembered how troubled Jason's life was at the moment.
Sonny could sense her change of mood and questioned it. "What's wrong, Carly?"
She sighed and responded, "I'm worried about Jason. I know that it's worse for Michelle, but I can't help thinking that he will take this on himself too much. Do you think we can do anything to help?"
"Just be his friend and try not to worry." He knew how close they had come to losing another child, and he didn't want his wife under any added stress. The thought of losing her, or this baby, caused him to tighten his arms around her. His family meant everything to him. "I'll do whatever I can to help Jason and Michelle," he promised.
There was a knock at the door and Sonny called, "Come in." Jason entered, looking exhausted. He sat in a chair facing Sonny and Carly, and sighed heavily. "Did you get any sleep?" Sonny asked in concern.
"No," Jason answered. The bleak look in his eyes showed his friends how difficult his night had been. "I hope I never have to do anything like that again."
Jason seemed to fade out, as he remembered Michelle's distress at the news he had given her. Her grief over her stepfather's death had made her inconsolable. At the very idea that her stepbrother could be dead, she had become hysterical.
"Are you OK, Jason?" Carly asked. "Can we help?"
He broke out of his thoughts and answered, "Yeah. I'll be all right. It's Michelle that I'm worried about. She was so upset I had to call a doctor. He gave her a sedative and she's sleeping now." He sounded discouraged. "She won't even consider that Philippe could be dead, Sonny. She lost it when I mentioned the possibility."
Sonny could sympathize with his friend's frustration. "Well, she could be right. They haven't found a body yet. Of course, the longer he's missing, the greater the chance that he's been dumped somewhere." He paused and turned to his wife. "Carly, Jason and I have some things to discuss and I know that you have a meeting with Laura, so..."
"I can take a hint." She leaned over and kissed Sonny good-bye. Then she turned to Jason and said, "I'm really sorry about all this, Jason. I wish I could help in some way. Maybe when I get back, I could sit with Michelle for a while, and let you get out."
Carly's offer meant a lot to him. "Thanks, Carly. That would be a big help." He smiled reassuringly at her. She touched his cheek, grabbed her purse, and left.
"There's something you should know, Jason," Sonny said. "If Philippe Lafontaine is alive, he will probably come here."
"Why would he do that?" Jason asked, bewildered.
"I spoke with Jules Lafontaine not long before you came home," Sonny explained. "He knew something major was brewing, and he was worried about his son. He was relieved that Michelle was leaving the country with you, but he knew that Philippe wouldn't leave him alone to face the crisis. When we spoke, he asked me to look out for Philippe, and he said that he would tell his son to come to me, if anything happened to him. Jules Lafontaine was an honorable man, Jason, and I'll do whatever I can to help his family."
Jason was impressed with his friend's loyalty and compassion. "I know you will, Sonny. Let me know if you hear anything about Philippe." He stood and rubbed his neck wearily. "I left Johnny at the penthouse, in case Michelle wakes up. I am going to go and see Chloe. I think she may be able to help."
As Jason entered the elevator, he knew that, while he was going to see Chloe for Michelle's sake, he was hoping to see Elizabeth for his own.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Elizabeth had spent the morning helping Chloe with preparations for the spring line showing. Chloe had decided hold it in Port Charles and had invited the New York fashion critics to attend. It was a risk, but they were both excited about it.
"Elizabeth, I spoke with Laura and Carly, and they have agreed to let Gia model some designs for us," explained Chloe. "She's coming today for a fitting and I think your coral silk dress would look fabulous on her. I know that Nikki was supposed to wear it, but do you think you could fit Gia for it?" Chloe knew she was expecting a lot from Elizabeth, but she was confident that she could handle it.
"Yes, I can alter the dress for Gia. I think she'll look great in it, too," enthused Elizabeth. She was thriving on the extra responsibility that Chloe was giving her.
As she was jotting down some notes, the door opened and Jason walked in. Elizabeth felt her heart flutter at the sight of him. She smiled warmly, but it faltered when she got a better look at him. The sadness in his beautiful eyes told her that something was terribly wrong.
Jason smiled at Elizabeth wanly, glad that she was here. Then he turned to Chloe and said, "Could I talk to you, Chloe? There's something I think you should know."
"Yes, of course, Jason," Chloe responded with concern. "What's wrong?"
"There is no easy way to tell you this, so I'm just going to say it." He paused and breathed deeply. "Michelle's stepfather is dead and Philippe is missing."
Chloe paled visibly and Jason reached out to steady her. "What happened?" she whispered.
"There was a takeover of Lafontaine's operation and he was killed. We don't have many details yet, but Philippe has disappeared." He knew that Chloe had been close to the Lafontaine family and that this was hard for her.
Pulling herself together, she asked, "How is Michelle? She must be devastated. Do you think she would see me?"
Jason sighed in relief. "She's in pretty bad shape, but I think seeing you would really help."
"I'll go right now," she offered, as she gathered her things.
"Thanks, Chloe," he said quietly.
"Thank you for telling me, Jason." She smiled sadly. "It was much kinder this way, than hearing it on the news." Then she was gone.
Jason turned to Elizabeth, whose heart was aching for everyone involved. She went to him and put her arms around him, offering comfort.
He wrapped his arms around her and clung to her like a lifeline. He loved and needed her more than ever. Having her here in his arms made his problems fade and gave him the strength to face what was coming.
Pulling back slightly, Jason looked into her beautiful face and said, "I need you, Elizabeth." His voice was thick with the strength of his emotions.
Awed by the depth of love she saw in his eyes, she responded huskily, "I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere. I love you, Jason. Let me take care of you for a change."
As he leaned in and kissed her gently, then with increasing intensity, Elizabeth responded, holding nothing back, knowing her love was safe in Jason's keeping.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*