Jason stood watching Elizabeth, her father and Anthony in the
distance. Dr. Harner was speaking to him yet Jason hadn't heard a single
work the man had said. He might as well have just ordered his own death
since he knew the situation he placed himself in with Anthony's wife was
precarious at best. Yet the idea of spending time, time that was above
board, with Elizabeth sent his heart racing.
"I can't thank you enough for your generous gesture." Dr. Harner's voice, along with Emily's not so gentle nudge, forced Jason back to reality.
"It was my pleasure, really," he said never averting his eyes from Elizabeth.
"Be that as it may," the doctor spoke. "It is still an amazing offer."
"To an amazingly worthwhile cause," Jason countered.
"Jason," Emily spoke up. "We really should be getting home."
"Yes, you're right. I am sure that Zander is waiting for you by now." Jason smiled thanking the powers that be for whatever delayed his future brother in law that evening. Not only did Jason have the gratification of one upping Anthony Malucci, but he had had the pleasure of Elizabeth's company as well.
"Where are you going?" Emily asked as she watched Jason make his way to Elizabeth and the others.
"It would be rude to leave without saying goodbye," he smiled.
"Jason!" He heard his sister's warning tone, but his feet had other ideas. Crossing the room Jason came to stand beside Elizabeth, a position that he knew angered Anthony almost immediately.
"Mr. Morgan," Elizabeth said clearing her throat. "That was quite an amazing offer you put on the table for the benefit. Do you realize what potential this benefit has to make? Are you sure that you are prepared to match those funds?"
"I don't see that as being a problem. The Morgan family knows a worthy cause when we see it. Just as I am sure that Malucci family does. Isn't that right Anthony?" Jason smiled sheepishly.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING, MORGAN?!?!" Anthony barked.
"Elizabeth," Emily interrupted before giving Jason the chance to answer. "I was hoping that maybe we could arrange to meet with several of the caterers."
"Sure," Elizabeth said absently eyeing the two men who were staring one another down.
"The caterer my mother has chosen for my reception is fabulous. I didn't see them on your initial list. Would you mind if I added them? I am sure they could do a great job."
"That would be fine."
"I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING MORGAN?!?!?" Anthony growled again.
"Doing?" Jason feigned ignorance.
"DON'T PLAY FUCKING STUPID WITH ME!"
"Anthony!" Elizabeth gasped. "What's wrong with you? Mr. Morgan has just ensured that this charity event will be more than just a mere success, but one of great magnitude. Isn't that what we all want?" she cooed linking her arm in her father's.
Elizabeth took such pleasure in knowing that even though her father might end up still getting what he wanted out of all of this, her husband certainly would not. No matter what Anthony did from this point forward, he would forever be standing in the Morgan family shadow. More importantly, in Jason Morgan's shadow. That thought brought a gleeful smile to her face.
Elizabeth watched Jason and Emily exit the room all the while longing for him to still be standing next to her. To her Jason Morgan was suddenly larger than life. Both he and Anthony were from the same world, but there was a sense of honor surrounding Jason that Anthony would never have.
"LET'S GO!" Anthony growled tugging her by the arm.
"You're hurting me," she said as she tried to wiggle out of his grasp.
"I'll be doing more than just hurting you if you don't get your ass moving!" he said with a sudden smile as Dr. Harner approached them.
"Mr. Malucci," he began, "please tell your father that the hospital greatly appreciates all of the work he did in putting the silent auction together. I think that, coupled with the Morgan's matching funds, the hospital should have no problem in securing those research grants we had hoped for."
"You will get your grants. But it will be my family who gets them for you not the Morgans," Anthony said curtly.
"Excuse me?" Dr. Harner was confused.
"What Anthony means is," Jeff cut in knowing his son in law's crude behavior was just about to show through, "that once I am elected to the Senate, I will be sure to steer those grants in your direction. Since my daughter is married to a Malucci, then that makes me a Malucci as well. Isn't that right Anthony?" Jeff did his best to cover.
"Certainly," Anthony returned as he stood there grinding his teeth.
"It's getting late. We really should be going," Jeff said.
"Elizabeth," Dr. Harner addressed her. "I look forward to seeing what you and Ms. Morgan put together for us."
"Thank you. I only hope that it goes smoothly. Good night," she offered as she turned to follow her father and husband.
"You think you are so cute, don't you?" Anthony asked as he navigated the Jag out of the parking space.
"Excuse me?" Elizabeth gave him a quizzical stare.
"That little display tonight. You think I didn't know what that was all about?"
"Display? What display?" Elizabeth shifted nervously in her seat wondering if Anthony was smarter than she had given him credit for. She wondered if he could feel the tension she felt between herself and Jason Morgan.
"You enjoyed every fucking minute of making me look like a fool in front of Morgan!"
"Sorry to say, but you had the pleasure of doing that all on your own!" Elizabeth countered. "Besides, I don't get why you were so bent out of shape to begin with."
"WHAT!?!" his voice boomed off the interior of the car.
"You heard me. What's the big deal? You are still going to come off as the upstanding benefactor. It's still going to you and my father sitting at the head table. Isn't that what this show is really all about?"
"NOT ANYMORE!"
"Rocco wants the families to work together...."
"Who fucking cares what the old man wants?" Anthony seethed.
"I do!"
"So what, you are finally finding that loyalty for my family that you misplaced a while ago?"
"Let's get one thing straight Anthony. I respect your father because he respects me. I would like to do right by the man. You on the other hand don't deserve the respect I would give an ant I was about to step on!"
"YOU BITCH!!" Anthony raised his hand as though he was about to strike her but thought better of it. He couldn't let her goad him into doing anything that would anger his father. Whether he liked it or not he still had to answer to the man, yet walking this thin line was getting more and more difficult.
Jason turned the key in the ignition while Emily stared at him in disbelief. To her, he looked like the proverbial cat that had just swallowed the mouse.
"Jason Morgan," she began sounding more like his mother than his sister. "What on earth was all of that?"
"All of what?" Again he attempted innocence.
"Don't give me that. You know exactly what I am talking about. Why are you suddenly so damned generous?"
"You said so yourself, Papa wants our family and the Maluccis to work together. So I am working together."
"Don't give me that crap."
"What?!"
"Come on Jase, what's really going on here? I'm not dumb nor am I blind...."
"Your point?"
"My point is that I saw the way you were eyeing Anthony's wife. I can't imagine that that others didn't see it as well."
"Emily, you are far too romantic for your own good."
"Then tell me I'm wrong Jason. Tell me that your weren't thinking about her the whole time that you were sitting across from Elizabeth at that table. Tell me this grand gesture of yours wasn't just to impress her. Can you tell me any of those things?"
Jason looked straight ahead as he drove down the darkened streets knowing that all of Emily's words were true.
"Well?" she prodded.
"What do you want me to say?"
"I want you to tell me that you are going to stay away from Elizabeth."
"I can't do that...."
"What?"
"You heard Dr. Harner. He expects me to be involved in the benefit from this point forward."
"So that's your grand plan, isn't it dear brother?"
"Now what are you talking about?" Jason asked still keeping his eyes trained on the road before him.
"You know exactly what I am talking about. Not only do you get to be close to Elizabeth, but also you get to do it under the guise of something you know Papa can't question. Not to mention the fact that you get to upstage Anthony."
"A trained seal could up stage Anthony," Jason quipped.
"Jason," Emily sighed.
"What?"
"I just think that you are asking for trouble, big trouble."
"Em," Jason rested his hand on hers, "you worry too much."
"Jason, where have you been?" Joseph asked as his son and daughter entered the foyer.
"I went to pick up Emily."
"You have been gone for quite some time."
"Good night, Papa." Emily kissed her father's cheek sensing that he was less than pleased with his son. She decided it was best to remove herself from his line of fire.
"It turned out that Dr. Harner was at Emily's charity meeting. He asked that I join them. I didn't want to be rude."
"No I'm sure you didn't. However, I thought I made myself clear that I wanted our families working together, not against one another."
"You did and I did just that."
"How so?" Joseph was curious.
"After hearing all that Rocco has already secured for the silent auction, I thought it would be better if the Morgan family matched the funds raised at the event."
"What?"
Jason couldn't tell if Joseph was more angry or shocked by his words. "Our family has given so much to the hospital already that I couldn't see us not doing it again."
"Why do I know there is more to this than you are telling me?"
"Nothing more, nothing less," Jason offered attempting his best poker face.
"Jason, this was to have been a Malucci event, not something for us to upstage Rocco and his family. I can't believe that you did something so blatant without passing it through me first."
"Exactly what do you want from me? You say that I am your second, but why is it that I never feel as though I truly am?" Jason asked trying his best to hold back his anger. "You bring me into this life without an option but still I am just on the outskirts. Am I just some token to you? Don't you trust me to do right by this family?" Jason's inward anger at the thoughts he was entertaining regarding Elizabeth was now being turned outward in the direction of his father.
"Jason," Joseph rested his hand on his son's shoulder. "You are much more than my second. You are my son, my legacy. I love you. You know that I trust you with my life. It's just when you and Anthony are involved in anything, it becomes explosive to say the least. Our family can't afford that explosion. Do you understand me? Too many of the old men from the old school are dying and they are being replaced with men who think like Anthony. If that continues, the empire that my father and his father before him built will be threatened. The life that my family has been accustomed to will be threatened. I can't take that chance. I can't let this little test of will between you and Anthony escalate. It's not good for anyone's business."
"I understand," Jason relented.
"I knew you would son."
But as his father walked away Jason didn't understand – not completely anyway. He had spent his whole life listening and learning at his father's knee. Why was it that he had learned the codes that Anthony hadn't? Why couldn't it have been as simple and as swift as it had been before when an enemy needed to be taken care of? No matter what Jason's father wanted to believe, Anthony Malucci was the enemy.
"I can't thank you enough for your generous gesture." Dr. Harner's voice, along with Emily's not so gentle nudge, forced Jason back to reality.
"It was my pleasure, really," he said never averting his eyes from Elizabeth.
"Be that as it may," the doctor spoke. "It is still an amazing offer."
"To an amazingly worthwhile cause," Jason countered.
"Jason," Emily spoke up. "We really should be getting home."
"Yes, you're right. I am sure that Zander is waiting for you by now." Jason smiled thanking the powers that be for whatever delayed his future brother in law that evening. Not only did Jason have the gratification of one upping Anthony Malucci, but he had had the pleasure of Elizabeth's company as well.
"Where are you going?" Emily asked as she watched Jason make his way to Elizabeth and the others.
"It would be rude to leave without saying goodbye," he smiled.
"Jason!" He heard his sister's warning tone, but his feet had other ideas. Crossing the room Jason came to stand beside Elizabeth, a position that he knew angered Anthony almost immediately.
"Mr. Morgan," Elizabeth said clearing her throat. "That was quite an amazing offer you put on the table for the benefit. Do you realize what potential this benefit has to make? Are you sure that you are prepared to match those funds?"
"I don't see that as being a problem. The Morgan family knows a worthy cause when we see it. Just as I am sure that Malucci family does. Isn't that right Anthony?" Jason smiled sheepishly.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING, MORGAN?!?!" Anthony barked.
"Elizabeth," Emily interrupted before giving Jason the chance to answer. "I was hoping that maybe we could arrange to meet with several of the caterers."
"Sure," Elizabeth said absently eyeing the two men who were staring one another down.
"The caterer my mother has chosen for my reception is fabulous. I didn't see them on your initial list. Would you mind if I added them? I am sure they could do a great job."
"That would be fine."
"I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING MORGAN?!?!?" Anthony growled again.
"Doing?" Jason feigned ignorance.
"DON'T PLAY FUCKING STUPID WITH ME!"
"Anthony!" Elizabeth gasped. "What's wrong with you? Mr. Morgan has just ensured that this charity event will be more than just a mere success, but one of great magnitude. Isn't that what we all want?" she cooed linking her arm in her father's.
Elizabeth took such pleasure in knowing that even though her father might end up still getting what he wanted out of all of this, her husband certainly would not. No matter what Anthony did from this point forward, he would forever be standing in the Morgan family shadow. More importantly, in Jason Morgan's shadow. That thought brought a gleeful smile to her face.
Elizabeth watched Jason and Emily exit the room all the while longing for him to still be standing next to her. To her Jason Morgan was suddenly larger than life. Both he and Anthony were from the same world, but there was a sense of honor surrounding Jason that Anthony would never have.
"LET'S GO!" Anthony growled tugging her by the arm.
"You're hurting me," she said as she tried to wiggle out of his grasp.
"I'll be doing more than just hurting you if you don't get your ass moving!" he said with a sudden smile as Dr. Harner approached them.
"Mr. Malucci," he began, "please tell your father that the hospital greatly appreciates all of the work he did in putting the silent auction together. I think that, coupled with the Morgan's matching funds, the hospital should have no problem in securing those research grants we had hoped for."
"You will get your grants. But it will be my family who gets them for you not the Morgans," Anthony said curtly.
"Excuse me?" Dr. Harner was confused.
"What Anthony means is," Jeff cut in knowing his son in law's crude behavior was just about to show through, "that once I am elected to the Senate, I will be sure to steer those grants in your direction. Since my daughter is married to a Malucci, then that makes me a Malucci as well. Isn't that right Anthony?" Jeff did his best to cover.
"Certainly," Anthony returned as he stood there grinding his teeth.
"It's getting late. We really should be going," Jeff said.
"Elizabeth," Dr. Harner addressed her. "I look forward to seeing what you and Ms. Morgan put together for us."
"Thank you. I only hope that it goes smoothly. Good night," she offered as she turned to follow her father and husband.
"You think you are so cute, don't you?" Anthony asked as he navigated the Jag out of the parking space.
"Excuse me?" Elizabeth gave him a quizzical stare.
"That little display tonight. You think I didn't know what that was all about?"
"Display? What display?" Elizabeth shifted nervously in her seat wondering if Anthony was smarter than she had given him credit for. She wondered if he could feel the tension she felt between herself and Jason Morgan.
"You enjoyed every fucking minute of making me look like a fool in front of Morgan!"
"Sorry to say, but you had the pleasure of doing that all on your own!" Elizabeth countered. "Besides, I don't get why you were so bent out of shape to begin with."
"WHAT!?!" his voice boomed off the interior of the car.
"You heard me. What's the big deal? You are still going to come off as the upstanding benefactor. It's still going to you and my father sitting at the head table. Isn't that what this show is really all about?"
"NOT ANYMORE!"
"Rocco wants the families to work together...."
"Who fucking cares what the old man wants?" Anthony seethed.
"I do!"
"So what, you are finally finding that loyalty for my family that you misplaced a while ago?"
"Let's get one thing straight Anthony. I respect your father because he respects me. I would like to do right by the man. You on the other hand don't deserve the respect I would give an ant I was about to step on!"
"YOU BITCH!!" Anthony raised his hand as though he was about to strike her but thought better of it. He couldn't let her goad him into doing anything that would anger his father. Whether he liked it or not he still had to answer to the man, yet walking this thin line was getting more and more difficult.
Jason turned the key in the ignition while Emily stared at him in disbelief. To her, he looked like the proverbial cat that had just swallowed the mouse.
"Jason Morgan," she began sounding more like his mother than his sister. "What on earth was all of that?"
"All of what?" Again he attempted innocence.
"Don't give me that. You know exactly what I am talking about. Why are you suddenly so damned generous?"
"You said so yourself, Papa wants our family and the Maluccis to work together. So I am working together."
"Don't give me that crap."
"What?!"
"Come on Jase, what's really going on here? I'm not dumb nor am I blind...."
"Your point?"
"My point is that I saw the way you were eyeing Anthony's wife. I can't imagine that that others didn't see it as well."
"Emily, you are far too romantic for your own good."
"Then tell me I'm wrong Jason. Tell me that your weren't thinking about her the whole time that you were sitting across from Elizabeth at that table. Tell me this grand gesture of yours wasn't just to impress her. Can you tell me any of those things?"
Jason looked straight ahead as he drove down the darkened streets knowing that all of Emily's words were true.
"Well?" she prodded.
"What do you want me to say?"
"I want you to tell me that you are going to stay away from Elizabeth."
"I can't do that...."
"What?"
"You heard Dr. Harner. He expects me to be involved in the benefit from this point forward."
"So that's your grand plan, isn't it dear brother?"
"Now what are you talking about?" Jason asked still keeping his eyes trained on the road before him.
"You know exactly what I am talking about. Not only do you get to be close to Elizabeth, but also you get to do it under the guise of something you know Papa can't question. Not to mention the fact that you get to upstage Anthony."
"A trained seal could up stage Anthony," Jason quipped.
"Jason," Emily sighed.
"What?"
"I just think that you are asking for trouble, big trouble."
"Em," Jason rested his hand on hers, "you worry too much."
"Jason, where have you been?" Joseph asked as his son and daughter entered the foyer.
"I went to pick up Emily."
"You have been gone for quite some time."
"Good night, Papa." Emily kissed her father's cheek sensing that he was less than pleased with his son. She decided it was best to remove herself from his line of fire.
"It turned out that Dr. Harner was at Emily's charity meeting. He asked that I join them. I didn't want to be rude."
"No I'm sure you didn't. However, I thought I made myself clear that I wanted our families working together, not against one another."
"You did and I did just that."
"How so?" Joseph was curious.
"After hearing all that Rocco has already secured for the silent auction, I thought it would be better if the Morgan family matched the funds raised at the event."
"What?"
Jason couldn't tell if Joseph was more angry or shocked by his words. "Our family has given so much to the hospital already that I couldn't see us not doing it again."
"Why do I know there is more to this than you are telling me?"
"Nothing more, nothing less," Jason offered attempting his best poker face.
"Jason, this was to have been a Malucci event, not something for us to upstage Rocco and his family. I can't believe that you did something so blatant without passing it through me first."
"Exactly what do you want from me? You say that I am your second, but why is it that I never feel as though I truly am?" Jason asked trying his best to hold back his anger. "You bring me into this life without an option but still I am just on the outskirts. Am I just some token to you? Don't you trust me to do right by this family?" Jason's inward anger at the thoughts he was entertaining regarding Elizabeth was now being turned outward in the direction of his father.
"Jason," Joseph rested his hand on his son's shoulder. "You are much more than my second. You are my son, my legacy. I love you. You know that I trust you with my life. It's just when you and Anthony are involved in anything, it becomes explosive to say the least. Our family can't afford that explosion. Do you understand me? Too many of the old men from the old school are dying and they are being replaced with men who think like Anthony. If that continues, the empire that my father and his father before him built will be threatened. The life that my family has been accustomed to will be threatened. I can't take that chance. I can't let this little test of will between you and Anthony escalate. It's not good for anyone's business."
"I understand," Jason relented.
"I knew you would son."
But as his father walked away Jason didn't understand – not completely anyway. He had spent his whole life listening and learning at his father's knee. Why was it that he had learned the codes that Anthony hadn't? Why couldn't it have been as simple and as swift as it had been before when an enemy needed to be taken care of? No matter what Jason's father wanted to believe, Anthony Malucci was the enemy.