*** Hey everyone, I'm sorry it has taken me so long to update, it has been crazy this past week. Thanks for all the reviews and I appreciate everyone's opinions so much. Thanks for all the comments on the comedy status. I'm glad you all agree on making this a fun one. My other story A New Beginning is going to become darker so it will be good to have something light going on at the same time. Oh and don't worry Ric will still be bad, just not real bright. So here is Chapter 4 ***
*** Oh yeah Sonny and Luke are still friends, I always hated that GH made them lose their friendship. ***
CHAPTER 4
Luke was wiping the bar clean when he heard the front door open.
"We're closed or can't you read the sign," Luke bellowed.
"I've been accused of many things but illiterate is not one of them." Sonny Corinthos said shooting Luke his trademarked dimpled grin. He approached the bar and set his jacket on a stool.
"Well why the hell didn't you say it was you when you came in the door." Luke exclaimed, "The door is always open for you, so what will it be?"
"Actually I'm looking for Elizabeth, I heard a very disturbing rumor today and was hoping she could clear it up." Sonny said taking the drink Luke handed him, it was funny Sonny didn't even need to order Luke was always prepared.
"A disturbing rumor in Port Chuckles, not very original since they seem to happen every day. However you have peaked my interest, being my should-have-been daughter is involved. What's up?" Luke said leaning on the bar.
"I heard she went to Jasper Jacks yesterday for a loan and now he is going to be financing her art show." Sonny said
"Well hot damn I haven't seen her or Skye today so the Wonder Boy from Down Under came through did he?" Luke said smiling for Elizabeth's good fortune.
"You mean it's true, she went to Candy Boy for a loan and never even asked me for help?" Sonny exclaimed
"Easy there Partner, don't feel neglected she wouldn't take my money either. She wanted this to be a real business arrangement, whatever the hell that means. Anyway she wanted to go through channels where she would pay them back on time and blah blah blah." Luke said waving his hand.
"She doesn't need a loan, I would have given her the money no questions asked." Sonny said.
"I think that was the point, you see the little darlin has this pride streak that never seems to quit. She wanted to get financing and then pay back and own the show for herself. She reminds me a lot like Carly in that way." Luke grinned.
"Can you believe those two have become best friends? I use to break out into hives at the thought of the two of them just being in the same room together. I always expected to find a body. So I understand the whole pride deal and I can respect that but Jasper Jacks, why don't I just do a self appendectomy with a spork?" Sonny said sighing.
"A spork?" Luke said inquisitively.
Sonny looked up at Luke computing what he had just said. "You know spoon and fork combined together, Michael uses them at school. You know what? Let's move on shall we?" Sonny said.
"You must be twisted if you can think of a child's utensil is a weapon of choice." Luke said laughing
"Enough" Sonny said but started laughing as well. They didn't notice Carly walking in.
"What's so funny?" she asked.
Both men glanced up.
"Caroline, darlin how have you been, we were just discussing the sick fetishes of your hubbie" Luke said gesturing for her to take a seat. Carly shot Luke a strange look and sat besides Sonny. She and her uncle had become better friends over the last few years.
"Did you know Jax was financing Elizabeth's art show?" Sonny asked her.
"Jax?" Carly asked. "The last time I heard Ric was financing the show. Which gives me the shudders just thinking about him anywhere near her."
"I'll drink to that sentiment," Luke said handing Carly a ginger ale.
"What sentiment would that be?" Elizabeth said from the doorway with Skye. It was funny everyone spent most of their time at Luke's when they weren't open.
Skye glanced at the group. Though she wasn't a huge fan of Sonny and Carly she tried her best to be nice for Elizabeth's sake. She had to admit that they did the same thing. She walked behind the bar grabbing a water and patted Luke on the top of his head.
"Have you been behaving?" she asked sweetly. Luke gave her a dirty look and she grinned, god this man cracked her up.
"Elizabeth we need to talk," Sonny said turning on his stool to face her. "What the hell are you doing getting a loan from Jax?"
Elizabeth sighed she knew this was coming. Ever since the panic room she and Carly had become best friends and Sonny treated her like a sister. She knew he wouldn't be happy with this whole Jax thing.
"Sonny don't be upset. I need a loan and Jax was going to help me out. I don't want my show to be run by Ric. I went to Jax for a loan to buy out the show and then I'd pay him back and the show would be mine." Elizabeth said.
"What do you mean, was going to help you, didn't he?" Carly asked.
"He is helping me but not with a loan. He pointed it out that Ric will probably not just allow me to buy the shows from the dealers right from under him. Jax has offered to buy out the show himself. That way if Ric attempts a bidding war. Jax can go head to head with him. Then he will sell me the show at a fair price." Elizabeth said.
Sonny rolled his eyes, Damn Candy Boy for being so reasonable.
"Well I think that is a great idea." Carly said. "I trust Jax even though some here don't," she said poking Sonny in the back. "I know he will do his best for you Elizabeth, and if he doesn't I'll beat him up."
"I would love to see that." Luke chimed in. "A pregnant Caroline battling it out with the pretty boy himself."
"Hey don't call him names," Elizabeth said still smiling at Luke, she could never get mad at him, no matter how much he exasperated her at times. "He is getting me away from Ric Lansing"
"Well hell even I'll drink to that." Sonny said under his breath.
The group smiled at raised their glasses. "To Jax" Skye said.
"To Elizabeth getting away from Ric" Sonny said. He still couldn't toast Jax.
"To the best art show ever" Carly said.
The group clinked glasses.
"So when is Jax getting here?" Skye asked.
"He's coming here?" Sonny whined the day was just getting better and better. Carly smacked him on the arm.
"Yes, he called me last night. He was going to the dealers today and he was going to stop buy here to let me know how it went. I wanted to go with but he thought it would be better if I didn't. Especially if he ran into Ric, he wants to do this quick so Ric doesn't know what hit him. Jax was afraid that if Ric saw me he would become irrational and out of control" Elizabeth said.
"Irrational and out of control? No not Ric" Carly said sarcastically.
Everyone laughed. Elizabeth sighed, right now Jasper Jacks was hopefully getting her out of a very bad situation. She didn't want to tell Sonny about the blackmailing; it would just make him angry. She didn't actually care if Ric disappeared suddenly but she knew if he did the cops would jump Sonny immediately.
Across Town at Capstone's Art Gallery.
Jax sat across from Jared Capstone. He was attempting to buy out Elizabeth's show.
"Mr. Jacks as you know we are sponsoring Elizabeth Lansing's art show but Ric Lansing is financing the whole show." Jared said.
"I understand that, but Elizabeth is no longer Lansing, it's Webber now by the way. She and Mr. Lansing are getting divorced. You can understand why Elizabeth would want to separate the show from her soon to be ex-husband. I'm offering to out pay Lansing." Jax said seriously. He had his business face on, which usually meant take no prisoners.
"Well I can understand Mrs. Lans... I mean Webber wanting to change this situation. I however run a prestigious and fair business here. I will definitely think of your offer. However I can't just sell it to you without even allowing Mr. Lansing the chance to rebuttal." Jared said.
"Of course not, please by all means I would love to talk to Lansing. In fact why don't we call him now and see if we can work something out." Jax said smiling politely. He had researched Lansing last night and the more he learned the more he despised the creep. The fact that he was blackmailing Elizabeth infuriated Jax; he hated men who thought they could control women with force.
An hour later Ric Lansing entered the office. He saw Jax sitting in one of the chairs, but wasn't sure why he was there.
"Capstone, is there a problem?" Ric asked.
"Well Mr. Lansing I actually called you down to inform you that Mr. Jacks here has offered to buy out Elizabeth's show." Jared said watching the two men.
"You want to buy out Elizabeth's show?" Ric asked dumbfounded. "Why?"
"Because I want to," Jax said simply.
Ric processed this information. Jealousy bubbled. What the hell does he want with Elizabeth's show?
"I'm sorry but the show isn't for sale." Ric said harshly
"Well actually, Mr. Lansing. Mr. Jacks as offered to pay us more then what you did. Technically speaking the show doesn't belong to you. I called you down here to give you a chance to work something out." Jared said matter of factly.
"I will gladly outbid you Mr. Lansing, but we could do this the easy way and you just let me purchase the show now and we can go our separate ways." Jax said staring Ric straight on.
"I don't think that is going to happen. I will out bid anything you have to offer Mr. Jacks. What I'm wondering is why you have a sudden interest in Elizabeth's show. You don't even know her." Ric said watching Jax's reaction.
Jax sighed. He had been on the phone last night with one of the best divorce attorneys. He had told Jax he could have Elizabeth out of this marriage by next week with or without Ric's signature. He wanted to rub it into Ric's face that Elizabeth came to him for help, but he didn't want Ric to catch on to anything Elizabeth was doing. The guy was unstable, who knows what he could be capable of.
"I have people who are interested in this show. It would be easier if I owned and controlled it." Jax lied. "I will pay you twice what Lansing is paying right now." Jax said to Jared.
"I'll triple it" Ric said.
Jax pulled out a pen and wrote a number on a piece of paper and handed it to Jared. It was a huge amount of money and normally Jax would never just lay that much down, but he couldn't help it. When he looked into Elizabeth's eyes he swore to himself he wouldn't let her down. Jared's eyes bugged slightly when he saw the amount. He handed the paper to Ric and Jax knew he had won. There was no way Ric could top it. Now he just had to make sure Ric didn't know that he was working with Elizabeth at least until the divorce was final.
"Mr. Jacks congratulations, it seems you are the new owner of the Elizabeth Lansing, I mean Webber Art Show." Jared shook his hand. Jax handed him a check and walked out the door, with Ric hot on his heels.
"Wait up a minute. What the hell was that about? Why do you want Elizabeth's show?" Ric demanded.
Game time Jax thought to himself. Time to mess with Ric. "I actually don't have an interest in Elizabeth, I don't even know her as you pointed out earlier. However there are people out there who were willing to pay a lot of money to own her show. I'm just doing them the favor of purchasing it for them. I apologize but it isn't personal. Now if you excuse me I have business to attend to."
Jax walked off leaving a very stumped Ric Lansing behind.
Jax walked into Luke's and let his eyes wander the club. Elizabeth had told him to stop by even though the bar was closed. He sighed when he saw the group at the bar. Sonny, Carly, Skye, Luke and Elizabeth were talking and laughing. Carly noticed him first.
"Jax" she called out waving him over.
Jax sighed; he wasn't in the mood to fight with Sonny. He noticed Elizabeth glance at him and her face light with a hopeful smile. She got up from the bar and headed to him.
"Hi, why don't we sit over here" she said gesturing to a table. "How did it go?"
"Well Ric was there but you are now looking at the new owner of the Elizabeth Webber Art Show. I hope you don't mind but I had them change the name from Lansing to Webber." Jax said smiling.
Elizabeth felt her eyes fill with tears. She grabbed his hand. "Really, I mean you bought it, he has no more involvement?"
"He is completely out of the picture. I led him to believe I was buying the show for other people. I didn't want him to know you were involved. I don't want him to cause you more trouble." Jax said.
"Well get over here you two and let us know what's happening" Luke called from the bar. Elizabeth jumped up still holding Jax's hand. She led him to the bar. She couldn't wipe the grin off her face.
"Jax came through" she squealed "Jax is now the knew owner of the Elizabeth Webber Art Show."
There was a moment of hugging, well at least for Elizabeth, though Skye and Carly hugged Jax.
"God now all I have to do is get the divorce and I'm free." Elizabeth said sighing, Luke had popped open Champagne, while Carly and Skye drank ginger ale, and the whole group was toasting. Jax and Sonny were actually standing somewhat near each other and no insults or fists were being thrown.
"That reminds me." Jax said suddenly. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper handing it to Elizabeth.
"I suspected Ric would give me problems, so I took the liberty of calling Robert Hawkins, that is his card there. He is the best divorce attorney money could buy. He owes me a favor so I called and told him your case. He said he could have you divorced by next week, with or without a signature from Ric. He said to have you call him as soon as possible." Jax said.
There was a moment of complete silence as everyone just stared at him, and just as it started the silence ended with everyone jumping around and screaming. Elizabeth was hugging Carly and Skye and crying. Luke came around the bar and slapped Jax on the back.
"You, my boy, drink free for life, you got my little girl away from that monster, and for that I will always be indebted." Luke said, he turned and grabbed Elizabeth in a hug. Jax turned and found himself face to face with Sonny.
Every quieted as they noticed the two men. Sonny shocked them all.
"Thanks for helping Elizabeth, I will always appreciate it. My brother is a sick individual and he almost killed my wife and Elizabeth. You have saved her from him. Thank you." Sonny said offering his hand to Jax.
"It was no problem, I was happy to help Elizabeth," Jax said graciously, accepting Sonny's handshake.
Before he knew it Jax felt a bundle fly into his arms. He realized it was Elizabeth. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off the ground.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you" she whispered over and over. Squeezing him tight.
Jax sighed and realized he really enjoyed having Elizabeth in his arms. He hugged her closer.
Skye watched as Jax and Elizabeth embraced and she suddenly felt a light bulb go off in her head. The two of them were perfect together. Skye felt a smile light up her face. At the same time, Carly was having the same exact thought. She happened to catch Skye's eye and the two women grinned.
Sonny and Luke noticed Skye and Carly grinning at each other.
"What the hell are they up to?" Luke asked Sonny.
Sonny sighed and shook his head. Something told him he didn't want to know.
Next time:
Skye and Carly plot
Jax and Elizabeth share a sweet moment
Ric and Lucky get into a fight.
***Ok guys review review review, cause if I know you are still reading, I'll keep writing.