Elizabeth closed the door to Rocco's study all the while thinking
that her existence was far too complicated. She gathered what little
strength she had left and headed to see her father for what was sure to be
a confrontation.
"Elizabeth," Jeff Webber cried as she stiffened under his concerned embrace. "I spent all night worrying about you."
"That's a first," she quipped, reasoning that Anthony's father, with his few kind words had showed more concern for her than her own father had in years. She shook off the sadness that that idea caused her.
"Please, I don't want to argue with you again. I truly was concerned for your safety."
"I wish that had come years ago. You know before you married me off to the devil himself," Elizabeth said toying with the liquor bottles sitting on the rolling cart to the back of the terrace.
"Am I going to pay for that mistake for the rest of my life?" Jeff's voice gasped.
"I think you have it all wrong!" Elizabeth seethed her angry eyes turning to meet her father's pleading one. "I'm the one paying for your mistake!"
"You really think that you are the only one suffering here?" Jeff's voice raised an octave. "Do you honestly believe that I like what I had to do any better than you do?"
"I'm sorry but I can't say it's at all the same!" Elizabeth growled astonished at what she was hearing. She was astounded by the fact that, in her father's warped mind, he even remotely thought their situations were the same.
"Elizabeth," Jeff ran his hand along the stubble invading his cheeks. "I know you don't want to hear this but I am sor....."
"Don't!" She stopped him.
"I am sorry!" he spoke over her. "What choice did I have though?"
"Haw about taking your punishment like a man, instead of tucking your tail between your legs like a coward!"
"Asking Anthony Malucci for help was anything but COWARDLY! I know what I was in for...."
"Don't you mean you knew what you were getting your daughter into?" Elizabeth sneered.
"You're never going to forgive me, are you?"
"NO!"
"Why?"
"WHY?!?!" she echoed in disbelief. "I'm not even going to answer that question. What is it you want from me today?" Elizabeth asked finally pouring herself a healthy dose of scotch.
"I came here to make sure you were all right."
"Don't you really mean you came here to make sure my little stunt, as you called it, didn't jeopardize your latest scheme to further advance yourself?"
"NO!!" Jeff lied knowing full well that she understood the bigger picture no matter how he attempted to change it. He was in far too deep with Anthony now to do anything to change it. So rather than rocking the boat he intended on riding the waves in an effort to get what he wanted. Yet now looking at his daughter, he couldn't help but think she had been tossed over board one too many times.
"Don't insult my intelligence. What do you really want?" Elizabeth had grown tried of staring at the man before her.
"This evening is the first meeting for the benefit we discussed the other day."
"Oh that's right. Should I start calling you Mr. Senator?" Elizabeth did little to hide her laughter.
"Could you get off your high horse for just a minute?" Jeff growled.
"ME?!?!"
"Yes, YOU! No matter what you think of me or your husband, this is a worthy cause. Somewhere in that hardened heart of yours......"
"Hardened thanks you to!" she interjected.
"Whatever, but I know that if you stop to think about it you will know that getting this project off the ground will mean a great many things for the coronary care patients, not to mention the hospital. Isn't that what's really important?"
Elizabeth turned away from him attempting to hide her oncoming tears. Jeff's words held a great truth, but somehow she wasn't able to get past who was speaking them.
"Besides don't you think it would be nice to put Anthony's dirty money to some good use?" Jeff asked.
"Oh I see," Elizabeth turned eyes wide open now. "Anthony gets to play wealthy, respectable benefactor and you, well you get those brownie points you are looking for to bring you one step closer to being an illustrious senator. But I have to ask what's in it for me?"
"Maybe a little self respect," Jeff Webber said softly.
"Excuse me?"
"Well maybe if you were involved in something other than sunning and drinking yourself into oblivion....."
"YOU SANTUMONIOUS BASTARD!!! Drinking is what got me into this mess in the first place and it wasn't even my own!"
"I know," Jeff's voice was barely a whisper as it passed his lips wishing that he had never spoken the words.
"GET OUT!!" Elizabeth yelled.
"What about the benefit?" Jeff wasn't about to let it drop no matter how angry his daughter may have been.
"You are unbelievable you know that?"
"Elizabeth?" Rocco's questioning voice invaded the terrace as he wheeled himself outside. "Is everything all right?"
"Mr. Malucci," Jeff said as he came face to face with Anthony's father.
"Is everything all right?" he asked again ignoring Jeff Webber completely.
"Yes, yes I'm fine. My father was just leaving. Isn't that right, dad?" She stressed his title sarcastically.
"Yes," Jeff hesitated before speaking again. "You know that Anthony expects your cooperation. I will see you this evening," he said more as a statement of fact than an actual question.
While Rocco watched, Elizabeth poured herself another glass full of amber liquid from the bottle beside her. "Elizabeth," Rocco said softly.
"I am sorry that our conversation disturbed you," she apologized suddenly feeling she owed him more than she had before.
"It sounded to be much more than just a conversation."
"No it's a tired conversation whose outcome never changes."
"Oh really?" Rocco raised a brow. "How so?"
"I don't want to bore you with my family troubles. Besides it's nothing that can be changed anyway."
"You don't think?"
"I know!" Elizabeth's voice took on an edge. No matter how agreeable he had been about his son's treatment of her, Elizabeth knew that Anthony was still his son.
"What exactly do my son and your father want you to be involved with?" he asked dropping his previous avenue of questions.
"A hospital benefit."
"Sounds interesting"
"Maybe."
"Why don't you want to do it?" he questioned.
"It's not that I don't want to," she paused treading lightly. "I just don't like to be controlled."
"Obviously," Rocco smiled knowingly. Elizabeth relaxed a bit and returned with her own smile. "Tell me more about this benefit." Elizabeth took a seat across from where her father in law was seated and began with what little she knew about the event. "It does sound like something the Malucci organization could readily endorse."
"That's what Anthony said," Elizabeth answered hesitantly.
"Well I don't know what my son had in mind, but I would gladly do my part to contribute to such a worthwhile cause. I am sure many others would as well....."
"You mean other Crime Families?" Elizabeth said biting her tongue to hold back her distaste of the idea.
"You know Elizabeth," he started, "we all aren't monsters. Some of us actually do operate within some aspects of the law."
"I'm sorry if I find that hard to believe," Elizabeth returned.
"I will let you in on a little secret." He smiled. "We may have companies serving as fronts for our illegal activities, but some of us actually do have completely legitimate companies."
"Really?" Elizabeth tried to sound not completely shocked by the idea.
"Yes. That's a lesson my son hasn't yet learned. To survive in our world, you need more than brute strength and fear. One needs a sense of the workings of the world as a whole to create a grand illusion."
"Isn't that what I'm for?" Elizabeth asked already knowing the answer.
"It shouldn't have been that way."
"It is though," she stated.
"Might I make a suggestion?"
"Go ahead."
"Work on this benefit, not because Anthony or your father wants it, but because you want to. Elizabeth, I may be a weary old man, but I am far from blind. I see you wasting away right before my eyes. You are no longer the bright, vivacious young woman who first entered this house. I watch you turning into a hardened, bitter woman and in my opinion, you are much better than those things. There may be nothing you can do with the situation you were forced into, but you certainly don't have to give my son the satisfaction of breaking your spirit."
"Why do you care what happens to me?" Elizabeth asked honestly.
"You remind me a great deal of my sister. She too was forced to marry out of a family obligation. I watched her wilt like an unattended flower and I don't want to see that happen to you as well. You have far too much potential for that.
"Thank you," she whispered wondering how it was that Rocco and Anthony were even related.
Jason joined the others in his family around the table, the last remnants of the previous evening's party having been cleared away. He would have preferred to stay holed up in his room but knowing his mother the way he did that wasn't an option. To Cassandra Morgan, family meals were a given in her house.
Emily eyes her brother from across the table as lunch was being served. Her heart broke for him. He had an unmistakable look of sadness around him these days.
"Excuse me, Mr. Morgan," a servant said.
"Yes?" Joseph wiped the cloth napkin across his mouth.
"There's a phone call for you sir."
"Joseph." Cassandra began. "You know how I feel about interruptions during our meals."
"Who is it?" Joseph asked.
"Mr. Malucci."
"I'm sorry dear, but I must take this call." Joseph's eyes darted in Jason's direction, both of them suddenly wondering if the first battle was about to begin. "Rocco."
Jason sat silently holding his breath as he listened to his father's side of the conversation. "Yes, thank you...I know it's hard to believe she's old enough to be getting married." Joseph reached over and touched Emily's hand lightly. "Yes...yes...though I may have not agreed with the method I do understand." Jason assumed they were now discussing himself and Elizabeth. "I too was proud, just cautious as well...I understand....yes, I will think about that....it does sound like something we might be interested in....yes thank you for calling....and please do keep me abreast of our mutual interests."
"What was that about?" Jason questioned as his father set the phone on the table beside him.
"Joseph," Cassandra said before her husband had a chance to speak. "You know how I feel about business being discussed."
"This isn't business, well not really," he offered.
"Well then what is it?" Both Jason and Cassandra spoke at once.
"It seems that Chicago University Hospital is conduction a benefit. The monies raised will be put toward enhancing the coronary care until. Rocco thought that since his daughter in law," Jason's ears suddenly perked up, "will be in charge of coordinating the event, Emily might like to join the committee. You know give it a more youthful feel. He also asked if we had anything that we would like to donate to the silent auction that the Malucci family will be hosting."
"Joseph, Emily will be too busy planning her wedding to be concerned with some charity event," Cassandra stressed.
"No Mama, I think that it would be great fun," Emily countered intrigued both by the idea of working with Elizabeth and the fact that suddenly the brother that sat across from her no longer looked so sullen.
"But dear, we haven't even settled on your dress or the bridesmaids' dresses. There is so much to be done yet. I just don't want you wearing yourself too thin."
"You worry too much mama. Everything will be fine."
"So, I should assume that you will assist Anthony's wife?" Joseph pointedly remarked.
"Yes."
"Wonderful. It will be nice to see the Morgan and Malucci families working together. Rocco said that the event is being held at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Elizabeth and her father will be there this evening for an initial meeting if you would care to join them," Joseph said to Emily.
"I think that I would like to do that."
"Glad to hear it. Jason?" Joseph questioned as his son rose from the table.
"I have some contracts to review and I am not really all that hungry." Jason needed to remove himself from the conversation. It wasn't bad enough that he couldn't get Elizabeth out of his mind as it was. He didn't need to hear her name continually bantered around the table. Joseph looked at his son curiously all the while wondering what was going on in his head.
"I should really be going too." Emily got up to follow Jason.
"Emily??" her mother cried.
"I promised Zander that I would help him pick the tuxedo style for the ushers." Emily kissed Cassandra's cheek before shooting out the door in search of her brother.
"Jason," she called as he ascended the stairs.
"Yes?" he stopped to answer her.
"What's going on with you?"
"What do you mean, what's going on with me?"
"I saw that smile you tried to hide when papa mentioned Elizabeth. What was that all about?"
"I think you need to get your eyes checked baby sister. You must be seeing things," Jason said sure that Emily could read him like a book.
"My vision is perfect. It's yours I am worried about," she countered.
"How so?"
"Did you happen to miss the gold band encircling her finger?"
"The rock was pretty hard to miss," Jason quipped in an effort to disguise feelings he was certain were written all over his features. "So why the sudden urge to become so civic minded?" Jason hoped to turn the conversation away from him.
"Papa. He wants so badly to stop the animosity between our families. I just wanted to do my part."
"That's never going to happen. Not as long as Anthony is alive!"
"Jason?" Emily questioned his sudden harsh voice.
"Nothing."
"No, that wasn't nothing."
"It's nothing for you to be concerned with. I really do need to get to work on these contracts."
"Jase," she spoke softly. "I know your are lonely, but this isn't the way to put an end to it."
Jason's eyes met his sister's amazed at how well she knew him. Putting Elizabeth out of his mind wasn't going to be as easy as he thought it should have been.
"Elizabeth," Jeff Webber cried as she stiffened under his concerned embrace. "I spent all night worrying about you."
"That's a first," she quipped, reasoning that Anthony's father, with his few kind words had showed more concern for her than her own father had in years. She shook off the sadness that that idea caused her.
"Please, I don't want to argue with you again. I truly was concerned for your safety."
"I wish that had come years ago. You know before you married me off to the devil himself," Elizabeth said toying with the liquor bottles sitting on the rolling cart to the back of the terrace.
"Am I going to pay for that mistake for the rest of my life?" Jeff's voice gasped.
"I think you have it all wrong!" Elizabeth seethed her angry eyes turning to meet her father's pleading one. "I'm the one paying for your mistake!"
"You really think that you are the only one suffering here?" Jeff's voice raised an octave. "Do you honestly believe that I like what I had to do any better than you do?"
"I'm sorry but I can't say it's at all the same!" Elizabeth growled astonished at what she was hearing. She was astounded by the fact that, in her father's warped mind, he even remotely thought their situations were the same.
"Elizabeth," Jeff ran his hand along the stubble invading his cheeks. "I know you don't want to hear this but I am sor....."
"Don't!" She stopped him.
"I am sorry!" he spoke over her. "What choice did I have though?"
"Haw about taking your punishment like a man, instead of tucking your tail between your legs like a coward!"
"Asking Anthony Malucci for help was anything but COWARDLY! I know what I was in for...."
"Don't you mean you knew what you were getting your daughter into?" Elizabeth sneered.
"You're never going to forgive me, are you?"
"NO!"
"Why?"
"WHY?!?!" she echoed in disbelief. "I'm not even going to answer that question. What is it you want from me today?" Elizabeth asked finally pouring herself a healthy dose of scotch.
"I came here to make sure you were all right."
"Don't you really mean you came here to make sure my little stunt, as you called it, didn't jeopardize your latest scheme to further advance yourself?"
"NO!!" Jeff lied knowing full well that she understood the bigger picture no matter how he attempted to change it. He was in far too deep with Anthony now to do anything to change it. So rather than rocking the boat he intended on riding the waves in an effort to get what he wanted. Yet now looking at his daughter, he couldn't help but think she had been tossed over board one too many times.
"Don't insult my intelligence. What do you really want?" Elizabeth had grown tried of staring at the man before her.
"This evening is the first meeting for the benefit we discussed the other day."
"Oh that's right. Should I start calling you Mr. Senator?" Elizabeth did little to hide her laughter.
"Could you get off your high horse for just a minute?" Jeff growled.
"ME?!?!"
"Yes, YOU! No matter what you think of me or your husband, this is a worthy cause. Somewhere in that hardened heart of yours......"
"Hardened thanks you to!" she interjected.
"Whatever, but I know that if you stop to think about it you will know that getting this project off the ground will mean a great many things for the coronary care patients, not to mention the hospital. Isn't that what's really important?"
Elizabeth turned away from him attempting to hide her oncoming tears. Jeff's words held a great truth, but somehow she wasn't able to get past who was speaking them.
"Besides don't you think it would be nice to put Anthony's dirty money to some good use?" Jeff asked.
"Oh I see," Elizabeth turned eyes wide open now. "Anthony gets to play wealthy, respectable benefactor and you, well you get those brownie points you are looking for to bring you one step closer to being an illustrious senator. But I have to ask what's in it for me?"
"Maybe a little self respect," Jeff Webber said softly.
"Excuse me?"
"Well maybe if you were involved in something other than sunning and drinking yourself into oblivion....."
"YOU SANTUMONIOUS BASTARD!!! Drinking is what got me into this mess in the first place and it wasn't even my own!"
"I know," Jeff's voice was barely a whisper as it passed his lips wishing that he had never spoken the words.
"GET OUT!!" Elizabeth yelled.
"What about the benefit?" Jeff wasn't about to let it drop no matter how angry his daughter may have been.
"You are unbelievable you know that?"
"Elizabeth?" Rocco's questioning voice invaded the terrace as he wheeled himself outside. "Is everything all right?"
"Mr. Malucci," Jeff said as he came face to face with Anthony's father.
"Is everything all right?" he asked again ignoring Jeff Webber completely.
"Yes, yes I'm fine. My father was just leaving. Isn't that right, dad?" She stressed his title sarcastically.
"Yes," Jeff hesitated before speaking again. "You know that Anthony expects your cooperation. I will see you this evening," he said more as a statement of fact than an actual question.
While Rocco watched, Elizabeth poured herself another glass full of amber liquid from the bottle beside her. "Elizabeth," Rocco said softly.
"I am sorry that our conversation disturbed you," she apologized suddenly feeling she owed him more than she had before.
"It sounded to be much more than just a conversation."
"No it's a tired conversation whose outcome never changes."
"Oh really?" Rocco raised a brow. "How so?"
"I don't want to bore you with my family troubles. Besides it's nothing that can be changed anyway."
"You don't think?"
"I know!" Elizabeth's voice took on an edge. No matter how agreeable he had been about his son's treatment of her, Elizabeth knew that Anthony was still his son.
"What exactly do my son and your father want you to be involved with?" he asked dropping his previous avenue of questions.
"A hospital benefit."
"Sounds interesting"
"Maybe."
"Why don't you want to do it?" he questioned.
"It's not that I don't want to," she paused treading lightly. "I just don't like to be controlled."
"Obviously," Rocco smiled knowingly. Elizabeth relaxed a bit and returned with her own smile. "Tell me more about this benefit." Elizabeth took a seat across from where her father in law was seated and began with what little she knew about the event. "It does sound like something the Malucci organization could readily endorse."
"That's what Anthony said," Elizabeth answered hesitantly.
"Well I don't know what my son had in mind, but I would gladly do my part to contribute to such a worthwhile cause. I am sure many others would as well....."
"You mean other Crime Families?" Elizabeth said biting her tongue to hold back her distaste of the idea.
"You know Elizabeth," he started, "we all aren't monsters. Some of us actually do operate within some aspects of the law."
"I'm sorry if I find that hard to believe," Elizabeth returned.
"I will let you in on a little secret." He smiled. "We may have companies serving as fronts for our illegal activities, but some of us actually do have completely legitimate companies."
"Really?" Elizabeth tried to sound not completely shocked by the idea.
"Yes. That's a lesson my son hasn't yet learned. To survive in our world, you need more than brute strength and fear. One needs a sense of the workings of the world as a whole to create a grand illusion."
"Isn't that what I'm for?" Elizabeth asked already knowing the answer.
"It shouldn't have been that way."
"It is though," she stated.
"Might I make a suggestion?"
"Go ahead."
"Work on this benefit, not because Anthony or your father wants it, but because you want to. Elizabeth, I may be a weary old man, but I am far from blind. I see you wasting away right before my eyes. You are no longer the bright, vivacious young woman who first entered this house. I watch you turning into a hardened, bitter woman and in my opinion, you are much better than those things. There may be nothing you can do with the situation you were forced into, but you certainly don't have to give my son the satisfaction of breaking your spirit."
"Why do you care what happens to me?" Elizabeth asked honestly.
"You remind me a great deal of my sister. She too was forced to marry out of a family obligation. I watched her wilt like an unattended flower and I don't want to see that happen to you as well. You have far too much potential for that.
"Thank you," she whispered wondering how it was that Rocco and Anthony were even related.
Jason joined the others in his family around the table, the last remnants of the previous evening's party having been cleared away. He would have preferred to stay holed up in his room but knowing his mother the way he did that wasn't an option. To Cassandra Morgan, family meals were a given in her house.
Emily eyes her brother from across the table as lunch was being served. Her heart broke for him. He had an unmistakable look of sadness around him these days.
"Excuse me, Mr. Morgan," a servant said.
"Yes?" Joseph wiped the cloth napkin across his mouth.
"There's a phone call for you sir."
"Joseph." Cassandra began. "You know how I feel about interruptions during our meals."
"Who is it?" Joseph asked.
"Mr. Malucci."
"I'm sorry dear, but I must take this call." Joseph's eyes darted in Jason's direction, both of them suddenly wondering if the first battle was about to begin. "Rocco."
Jason sat silently holding his breath as he listened to his father's side of the conversation. "Yes, thank you...I know it's hard to believe she's old enough to be getting married." Joseph reached over and touched Emily's hand lightly. "Yes...yes...though I may have not agreed with the method I do understand." Jason assumed they were now discussing himself and Elizabeth. "I too was proud, just cautious as well...I understand....yes, I will think about that....it does sound like something we might be interested in....yes thank you for calling....and please do keep me abreast of our mutual interests."
"What was that about?" Jason questioned as his father set the phone on the table beside him.
"Joseph," Cassandra said before her husband had a chance to speak. "You know how I feel about business being discussed."
"This isn't business, well not really," he offered.
"Well then what is it?" Both Jason and Cassandra spoke at once.
"It seems that Chicago University Hospital is conduction a benefit. The monies raised will be put toward enhancing the coronary care until. Rocco thought that since his daughter in law," Jason's ears suddenly perked up, "will be in charge of coordinating the event, Emily might like to join the committee. You know give it a more youthful feel. He also asked if we had anything that we would like to donate to the silent auction that the Malucci family will be hosting."
"Joseph, Emily will be too busy planning her wedding to be concerned with some charity event," Cassandra stressed.
"No Mama, I think that it would be great fun," Emily countered intrigued both by the idea of working with Elizabeth and the fact that suddenly the brother that sat across from her no longer looked so sullen.
"But dear, we haven't even settled on your dress or the bridesmaids' dresses. There is so much to be done yet. I just don't want you wearing yourself too thin."
"You worry too much mama. Everything will be fine."
"So, I should assume that you will assist Anthony's wife?" Joseph pointedly remarked.
"Yes."
"Wonderful. It will be nice to see the Morgan and Malucci families working together. Rocco said that the event is being held at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Elizabeth and her father will be there this evening for an initial meeting if you would care to join them," Joseph said to Emily.
"I think that I would like to do that."
"Glad to hear it. Jason?" Joseph questioned as his son rose from the table.
"I have some contracts to review and I am not really all that hungry." Jason needed to remove himself from the conversation. It wasn't bad enough that he couldn't get Elizabeth out of his mind as it was. He didn't need to hear her name continually bantered around the table. Joseph looked at his son curiously all the while wondering what was going on in his head.
"I should really be going too." Emily got up to follow Jason.
"Emily??" her mother cried.
"I promised Zander that I would help him pick the tuxedo style for the ushers." Emily kissed Cassandra's cheek before shooting out the door in search of her brother.
"Jason," she called as he ascended the stairs.
"Yes?" he stopped to answer her.
"What's going on with you?"
"What do you mean, what's going on with me?"
"I saw that smile you tried to hide when papa mentioned Elizabeth. What was that all about?"
"I think you need to get your eyes checked baby sister. You must be seeing things," Jason said sure that Emily could read him like a book.
"My vision is perfect. It's yours I am worried about," she countered.
"How so?"
"Did you happen to miss the gold band encircling her finger?"
"The rock was pretty hard to miss," Jason quipped in an effort to disguise feelings he was certain were written all over his features. "So why the sudden urge to become so civic minded?" Jason hoped to turn the conversation away from him.
"Papa. He wants so badly to stop the animosity between our families. I just wanted to do my part."
"That's never going to happen. Not as long as Anthony is alive!"
"Jason?" Emily questioned his sudden harsh voice.
"Nothing."
"No, that wasn't nothing."
"It's nothing for you to be concerned with. I really do need to get to work on these contracts."
"Jase," she spoke softly. "I know your are lonely, but this isn't the way to put an end to it."
Jason's eyes met his sister's amazed at how well she knew him. Putting Elizabeth out of his mind wasn't going to be as easy as he thought it should have been.