Chapter Fifty Seven
Jason walked into the familiar hallway leading to Sonny's penthouse. It had been a while since he'd been to the penthouse and it was almost awkward. As he walked into the apartment, Jason waited patiently as Sonny was on the phone.
Sonny greeted Jason as he put the receiver back down. "Jason!" Sonny laughed. "It's good you're back." Jason nodded and smiled. He scratched his head and sighed. "Yeah, it's been awhile."
At that moment, Johnny opened the door and was about to say something when Alexis barged in. "Do you know anything about contract with Alvera…" Suddenly she stopped in her tracks as Alexis realized that Jason was standing in the room. Alexis peered over her dark rimmed glasses and smiled. "Jason? Hi!" She seemed flustered and somewhat nervous after her rude entry. "I'm sorry. If you guys are busy then I can come back?"
Sonny smiled and shook his head. "No. We're just catching up. What is the problem?"
Jason watched his best friend discuss the paperwork Alexis held in her hand. He didn't quite understand it, but the two seemed quite familiar with each other. And they also seemed quite comfortable around each other. Something Jason hadn't seen Sonny be, around any of his former lovers or wives. In a way, it was unsettling. He knew Carly must be in an uproar about it. Jason wasn't surprised that she hadn't been in the news for doing something irrational or damaging since this turn in Sonny and Carly's relationship.
"So you want me to change the clause and add an addendum to the contract?" Alexis asked, taking off her glasses and biting on the curved handle. Sonny nodded. "Yeah. I want this contract to be tight. They shouldn't have any elbowroom to negotiate. Do you think you can do that?"
Alexis rolled her eyes. "Can I do that?" She smiled. "Isn't that what you are paying the best lawyer you've ever had to do?"
Sonny winked at her and nodded. "That's why I hired you!" Alexis pursed her lips and feigned embarrassment. "Well, I've got a couple of errands to do, but this contract should be done by the end of the day. You can sign it tonight?" she asked. Sonny nodded. "Good. Nice to see you again Jason."
Jason nodded and watched her disappear behind the closing door. He frowned. "So everything's under control here?" Jason asked.
Sonny sat down on the beige couch. "Yeah. What about you? Have you seen Elizabeth yet?" Jason joined Sonny on the couch. "No. I got in late last night and just went to bed. I would have liked to go to Carly's opening, but I thought I'd drop in today, instead. I figured she would have been gone by the time I got there," Jason explained. Sonny nodded. "Did you go?"
Jason watched as Sonny rubbed his jaw. "Yeah. I went with Alexis."
"And how did she take it?" Jason asked, like he didn't already know the answer.
Sonny raised his eyebrows. "She looked like she wanted to rip Alexis face off, but played it cool," sighed Sonny.
Jason shook his head. "Why would you take Alexis anyway? You know Carly had problems with you two before. Why would you make her more crazy by doing that?"
Sonny shrugged. "She sent an invitation which included Alexis. Why wouldn't I take her? Besides, Carly's made it very clear that she's being independent and that she can handle herself without me."
Jason frowned. "And you know that is a bunch of hogwash when it comes to Carly! She loves you and she's just hurting."
Suddenly Sonny's face hardened and his lips flattened into a thin line. "Well, I don't have time to think about that right now! She's got her own life and she's made it expressly clear that she doesn't want me involved in it. Carly made her point when she asked Jax to be her partner," declared Sonny.
Jason sighed. "Well you know she did that because you can't forgive her for turning you over to the Feds."
Sonny looked at Jason for a moment and then got up and poured himself a drink. "Well it's over and done with. Carly's got her own life and I can't keep interfering with it. I can't forgive her for what she did. And I have no claim on her. She's a free woman. Free to do what she wants."
Jason couldn't believe what he was hearing. Sonny just didn't let go of Carly that just wasn't what he did, especially when he loved her. "But you love her Sonny. And you two will eventually find your way back to each other."
Sonny took a drink of Scotch and shook his head. "I love her, but I can't trust her."
The words seemed so final to Jason. Sonny seemed adamant about this and Jason didn't know if this was a good thing or a bad thing. It seemed Sonny had moved on.
~~~
Elizabeth stopped by Kelly's that afternoon to pick up a coffee. When she arrived, Elizabeth unexpectedly bumped into Lucky. "Lucky!" smiled Elizabeth, sheepishly.
Her former fiancée smiled at her. "Elizabeth. You're out of hiding!" Lucky teased. "I was wondering if I'd see you sometime soon. Where have you been keeping yourself?"
Elizabeth swallowed. She'd hoped that she wouldn't have to deal with them until she was ready, but Elizabeth should have known that she was bound to run into one of the threesome at Kelly's. "I've just been settling back into my studio and unpacking stuff; getting all my junk sorted out."
"Well I'm so glad that we can talk. Why don't we sit and have coffee?" Lucky ordered two coffees and led Elizabeth to a table. "So what happened in Italy anyway?"
Elizabeth sat down and studied Lucky's face. He asked the question casually, but Elizabeth could tell that he was upset with the whole trip and also the danger she'd been in. "Look Lucky, can't we just chalk it up to bad luck? Jaime's back safe, and I'm fine."
Lucky shook his head. "No one's safe with Jason around. I'm just glad he didn't come back with you."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Lucky!" sighed Elizabeth exasperatedly. "It had nothing to do with Jason! And if it hadn't been for him, we never would have found Jaime!"
She was tired of having to defend Jason when there was nothing to defend. He'd done nothing wrong, yet everyone was still so quick to jump on him, even though he'd saved Jaime. Lucky shook his head. "I don't think so. Elizabeth," Lucky growled. "He's a goon. He kills people for a living!"
It took everything in her, not to get up and walk away. There was a brief respite from Lucky's accusations. Katie brought two cups of coffee over to their table. Elizabeth smiled at the young Asian waitress. "Thanks," she smiled. Elizabeth wrapped her hands around the cup of coffee, when Lucky reached out and grasped her left hand.
"Look Elizabeth, I know you don't want to hear it, but Jason's bad news. You know that he kills people, and one day you'll be caught in the crossfire and end up a casualty of his 'business'," warned Lucky.
Elizabeth shook her head. "It's not like that. Jason would never put me in danger. Besides, we're just friends." She sighed. "Look, I don't need to explain myself to you anymore Lucky. I'm not your girlfriend, and I'm not your fiancée!" Elizabeth pulled her hand away from Lucky's. She leaned back and swallowed. It had been hard to say that, but it needed to be said.
Lucky frowned. "But I am still a friend aren't I?" demanded Lucky. "And I still get to care about whether you could be killed or not!" Lucky shook his head. "I'm not letting you put yourself in danger just because put some spell on you and blinded you to what kind of person he really is."
Elizabeth scrounged around in her pocket and set a dollar down for the coffee. She shook her head as she rose from the chair and swallowed. "You don't get it do you Lucky? I know exactly what I'm getting into and I don't need you, Nikolas or Gia telling me how naïve and blind I am about Jason!" She turned on her heel and headed towards the door. Just when Elizabeth reached for the doorknob, it swung away from her.
As she peered up at the figure standing before her, Elizabeth heart stopped and her breath was caught in her throat. "Jason?"