Elizabeth pressed her body against the closed door. She could hear
her own heavy breathing in her head. It wasn't until that exact exchange
between father and son that she came to grasp how truly out of control
Anthony could be. She had always had her reservations, maybe even fear,
with regards to her husband. This morning however his fierce hatred and
the lengths he was willing to go frightened the hell out of her.
Making her way across the room, Elizabeth sat on the edge of the bed and began to rethink her grand plan. She was beginning to have doubts about the meager scheme of revenge against Anthony. Would it be worth its cost to her or to Jason Morgan? At the first thought of her idea, Jason Morgan seemed to be the perfect person to use to rattle Anthony's cage, but Elizabeth had taken his veiled threats quite seriously. She couldn't see her way clear to adding more fuel to her husband's already bon-sized fire.
Elizabeth lay back against the coolness of the unmade bed and stared up at the ceiling. The image of Jason Morgan popped into her mind's eye. Even though on first glance Elizabeth had seen him as a tool to use against Anthony, all of the sudden she wasn't so sure that was all he had been. There was no denying that she found the man incredibly attractive, in fact incredibly sexy, but there was more to Jason Morgan than just his outward appearance. There was something about him that drew Elizabeth to him yet she just wasn't able to put her finger on it. In each encounter that they had had thus far, Jason had been nothing but respectful of her even when she didn't deserve such respect. He had been kind and generous the night that she potentially ruined his sister's engagement party.
Elizabeth reasoned with the warring voices in her mind that Anthony had been all those things in the beginning of their courtship too. Anthony had been the perfect gentleman. Just as Elizabeth was beginning to believe the words of her head, her heart let out with its own barrage. She had a difficult time putting a stop to it, maybe because she didn't want those thoughts to ever end. She recalled Jason offering to leave his family's party because she hadn't wanted to rejoin it and be a spectacle again. He had gone to the trouble of making her comfortable for an unexpected overnight stay. He had even gone as far as picking out clothes for the next day so she wouldn't have to wear her evening gown home that morning. Her own husband had never been that kind or in tune with her needs. Jason virtually had said that anything she wanted that morning was to be hers. So why was it what she really wanted had left in the middle of the night without so much as a word?
Elizabeth pulled the thick down comforter over her face and groaned. This had become far too complicated much to quickly. The worst part of it all was that here she was having fantasies about a man who had basically said that all of his actions were done out of the loyalty his father had for Anthony's. Why was she suddenly reading more into his actions than what she knew them to be? This whole scenario that Elizabeth had playing in her head was bizarre, yet she couldn't stop it from scrolling through – more importantly, she didn't want to.
"Oh...excuse me," Helena said startled to find Elizabeth still in the room. "I thought you had gone Miss. I was just going to make up the bed."
"That's fine I was on my way out."
"No really," Helena said, "I can come back later."
"Helena," Elizabeth placed her hand on the woman's shoulder, "it's fine really. Do your job. Besides I have something I need to take care of and it's certainly not going to get done by my lying around all day," Elizabeth smiled.
She walked down the hallway knowing that she shouldn't be thinking of doing what she was, but there was no stopping her once she set her mind to something. No matter what ideas of Jason Morgan were floating around in her head, she still had a benefit to work on. If she just so happened to run into him – well then so be it, but running into Jason was all she silently hoped for.
"ROCCO!" Elizabeth gasped as she walked by the dining room and saw her father in law clutching his chest. "Where are your pills?"
He tried to put his hand in his pocket but another stabbing pain ripped through his chest. Elizabeth wasted little time in reaching into his pocket pulling out a small pill case that held Rocco's nitroglycerin tablets. Instinctively, Elizabeth placed the first of three pills under his tongue. By the time the second had dissolved, she could see a noticeable improvement but administered the last one just the same.
"Thank you," he said once he was finally able to speak.
"We really should call Dr. Aber," Elizabeth remarked shaken by the whole experience. Dealing with her father in law's condition brought back so many memories of her own mother that at times Elizabeth didn't know if she could stand to watch another person she loved die. She did love Rocco Malucci. He was her protector, but it had come to be more than that in the last weeks. It was as if they had formed and unexplainable bond. It tore at her heart to know that sooner than she wanted that bond would be broken.
"Nonsense."
"I have to disagree Rocco. This was one of the worst attacks that I have witnessed. I am calling Dr. Aber."
"Please, don't make a fuss. I am fine now. I just need to lie down. Could you have Jack bring me back to my room?"
"I don't like this," Elizabeth countered.
"I'm an old man Elizabeth. An old man who is dying. I don't want to be poked and prodded to just be told that there is nothing they can do for me. I already know that. Please just ring for Jack."
Elizabeth swallowed the tears that threatened to fall and was suddenly consumed by sheer grief. She wondered why life was so cruel. Why was a good man like Rocco dying when his son was the one who deserved all the agony and pain his father had to endure? Elizabeth complied with his request and spoke into the intercom, summoning Jack into the room.
"Thank you," Rocco whispered.
"I was just heading out," she began, "but I think it would be wise if I stayed close to home."
"That's nonsense. You go attend to whatever it is that you need to do. I will be just fine."
Elizabeth had her doubts regarding his last statement. "I would feel much better if I just stayed home. Besides, Emily and I can discuss the caterer for the benefit over the phone if we have to."
"Elizabeth," Rocco's shaky hand reached for hers. "Please don't make me feel like I have kept you a prisoner in this house. I will be fine. I just need to get some rest. Please go meet with Emily. Make this benefit spectacular. That's what I really want you to do."
Elizabeth looked into his soft green eyes and couldn't refuse him. "I still don't like this, but I will go," she relented. "I am going to call and check up on you though," she smiled broadly again holding back her tears.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Rocco returned with a smile of his own.
Elizabeth shifted nervously in the driver's seat as she watched the man behind the glass window make the appropriate call to the main house. She knew that her visit was an unexpected one and hoped that she had done the right thing in just dropping by unannounced.
"Mrs. Malucci," the man said, "Miss Emily will be waiting for you. If you would park your car in front of the house and leave the keys in the ignition, it will be parked for you."
"Thank you," Elizabeth smiled as she made her way up the long winding driveway. Suddenly her anticipation at the possibility of seeing Jason was all consuming. She felt like she had back in high school when she had asked a boy to the Sadie Hawkins Dance. It was exhilarating yet it was terrifying as well. She did as instructed, left her car and went to ring the doorbell.
"I'll get it." She heard a muffled voice from the other side. "Elizabeth??" Jason couldn't hide his surprise.
"Hello Jason," she said hearing her voice quiver and hoping that he hadn't.
"I didn't know Emily was expecting you today?" His statement came out more as a question as he tried desperately to concentrate on the words he was speaking. He was not finding that to be an easy task with her so close.
"Actually she didn't either."
"Excuse me?"
"I was just thinking that we don't have all that much time to plan this benefit and looking at all the things that are left to do, I just thought we better get started." Elizabeth heard her voice race, as her sentences became nothing more than a jumbled mass of words. She blushed feeling like a nervous schoolgirl.
"Jason," Joseph said coming up behind him. "Aren't you going to ask our guest in?"
"Oh – yes, come in."
"It's nice to see you again Elizabeth." Joseph offered his hand. "How is Rocco today?"
"Not so good I am afraid."
"Meaning?" Joseph's brow furrowed with concern.
"He had some chest pains earlier. Rather bad ones I would have to say. I wanted to stay home, but he insisted on my working on the benefit."
"Sounds very much like Rocco," Joseph concurred. It was obvious to him that his life long friend was far worse than he had wanted anymore to know. That thought saddened and worried him. Joseph was somber at the idea of losing his dear friend and distressed at the turmoil he was certain would ensue upon Rocco's demise. "You could call to check on him if you would like," he added sensing that she was worried as well.
"If you wouldn't mind, I would like to do that. I think I might call Dr. Aber too if that's all right with you."
"Certainly, make all the calls you need to. Once you are finished, why don't you meet me and my family out on the patio? We were just about to sit down to lunch. You will join us won't you?"
"If it's not too much of an intrusion. I realize that I just showed up unannounced. It didn't even dawn on me that it was noontime."
"There's always room for one more at our table."
"Thank you Mr. Morgan," Elizabeth said softly.
"Jason, would you show Elizabeth to my study? I am sure she would like to make her calls in private."
Jason closed the door to the study as he let out a heavy sigh running his hands across his weary face. Each time he thought he had a handle on his emotions, he was forced to encounter another bump in the road. Having Elizabeth in his very house and him having to feign no feelings for her would be laborious. In his heart Jason knew he wouldn't be able to do that. Emily would see right through him and he was having his doubts that his father wouldn't be able to do the same. Jason shook his head thinking that this was going to be the most tedious lunch of his life.
"I trust all is well at the house?" Joseph asked as Elizabeth slipped into the vacant seat next to Jason.
"Yes it is. Helena informed me that my father in law has been sleeping since I left and Dr. Aber will be heading to the house as well. Just to make a cursory check on Rocco.
"I am glad to hear that." Joseph smiled.
"Mrs. Morgan," Elizabeth directed her words toward Cassandra. "I am sorry for disturbing your family lunch. I didn't even think of the time when I left the house. The only thing I had on my mind was the benefit and how much work we have still to accomplish," Elizabeth lied, never once letting her eyes reveal her true reasons for being in the Morgan house again.
"I hope you understand that Emily is quite busy with her own affairs," Cassandra Morgan returned curtly. "We are right in the middle of planning her wedding."
"I completely understand that. I assure you that I will not stand in the way of any of those preparations. I am just grateful for the assistance. I had no idea what an undertaking this truly would be," Elizabeth smiled sensing that the matriarch of the Morgan family was less than pleased about her daughter's involvement.
"Mama, please," Emily sounded distressed at her mother's obvious rude behavior. "I told you before I want to be a part of this charity event. It's a wonderful cause....."
"Besides," Jason cut his sister off. "I will also be part of the planning committee. I will be sure that Elizabeth doesn't work Emily too hard." Both young women at the table felt as if Jason had just rescued them from impending doom.
"How did you become involved?" Cassandra asked with an arched brow.
"I was just in the right place at the right time," Jason half- heartedly joked.
"Oh really?" Cassandra couldn't help but see the corners of her son's mouth begin to turn upward with those words. She attempted to catch her husband's attention across the table to no avail and wondered if he was getting the same vibes from their son as she was.
"So Elizabeth, Jason mentioned that Rocco has secured a great many things to be auctioned off."
"Yes, actually he has. It totally amazed me when he handed over the list. Not to mention your family's generous donation." Elizabeth took this opportunity to finally let her eyes rest on Jason's face.
"Well I trust my son's judgment. If he felt that the cause was worth that much, than I will back him one hundred percent. I am sure you are well aware there has been some bad blood between our families in the past, and I am hoping that we can start anew by pulling together for an event of this caliber."
Automatically Anthony's hidden words of disposing of his enemy leapt from her memory. It was so sad to her that the two older men of each family really thought that this event was something that would align their warring factions. In her heart Elizabeth couldn't help wonder if this wasn't really just the beginning of the end.
Lunch proceeded with mostly talk of the benefit and Emily's upcoming nuptials. Listening to how excited she sounded had Elizabeth longing for those days when she believed in true love. All those illusions had been shattered a long time ago, yet suddenly the man sitting beside her had Elizabeth wondering if maybe she could have her fairy tale after all. She shook her head in an attempt to rid herself of such thoughts. This wasn't supposed to be about finding true love, this was supposed to be about sticking it to her husband. Knowing just how Anthony felt about Jason Morgan made this a simple task, but Elizabeth's racing pulse whenever Jason was near complicated everything at the moment.
"Well I hate to break up this nice little party," Joseph began, "but Jason and I really need to be getting to the office." Elizabeth felt her shoulders drop at those words. She was thoroughly enjoying not only spending time with Jason but also in having a meal that didn't end up in one argument or another. She watched quietly as Joseph kissed his wife sweetly, holding back her own sigh. Elizabeth knew she was in a house of the most powerful Mafia Don in state of Illinois, yet by what she was observing no one would have known. She had to think that's what her father in law had meant when he alluded to the fact that his son didn't know how to live within the world as a whole. It was obvious that Joseph Morgan did. And that had Elizabeth wondering if perhaps his son did as well. The mere notion of that idea brought a smile and a tiny glimmer of hope that she wouldn't forever be trapped in hell.
Making her way across the room, Elizabeth sat on the edge of the bed and began to rethink her grand plan. She was beginning to have doubts about the meager scheme of revenge against Anthony. Would it be worth its cost to her or to Jason Morgan? At the first thought of her idea, Jason Morgan seemed to be the perfect person to use to rattle Anthony's cage, but Elizabeth had taken his veiled threats quite seriously. She couldn't see her way clear to adding more fuel to her husband's already bon-sized fire.
Elizabeth lay back against the coolness of the unmade bed and stared up at the ceiling. The image of Jason Morgan popped into her mind's eye. Even though on first glance Elizabeth had seen him as a tool to use against Anthony, all of the sudden she wasn't so sure that was all he had been. There was no denying that she found the man incredibly attractive, in fact incredibly sexy, but there was more to Jason Morgan than just his outward appearance. There was something about him that drew Elizabeth to him yet she just wasn't able to put her finger on it. In each encounter that they had had thus far, Jason had been nothing but respectful of her even when she didn't deserve such respect. He had been kind and generous the night that she potentially ruined his sister's engagement party.
Elizabeth reasoned with the warring voices in her mind that Anthony had been all those things in the beginning of their courtship too. Anthony had been the perfect gentleman. Just as Elizabeth was beginning to believe the words of her head, her heart let out with its own barrage. She had a difficult time putting a stop to it, maybe because she didn't want those thoughts to ever end. She recalled Jason offering to leave his family's party because she hadn't wanted to rejoin it and be a spectacle again. He had gone to the trouble of making her comfortable for an unexpected overnight stay. He had even gone as far as picking out clothes for the next day so she wouldn't have to wear her evening gown home that morning. Her own husband had never been that kind or in tune with her needs. Jason virtually had said that anything she wanted that morning was to be hers. So why was it what she really wanted had left in the middle of the night without so much as a word?
Elizabeth pulled the thick down comforter over her face and groaned. This had become far too complicated much to quickly. The worst part of it all was that here she was having fantasies about a man who had basically said that all of his actions were done out of the loyalty his father had for Anthony's. Why was she suddenly reading more into his actions than what she knew them to be? This whole scenario that Elizabeth had playing in her head was bizarre, yet she couldn't stop it from scrolling through – more importantly, she didn't want to.
"Oh...excuse me," Helena said startled to find Elizabeth still in the room. "I thought you had gone Miss. I was just going to make up the bed."
"That's fine I was on my way out."
"No really," Helena said, "I can come back later."
"Helena," Elizabeth placed her hand on the woman's shoulder, "it's fine really. Do your job. Besides I have something I need to take care of and it's certainly not going to get done by my lying around all day," Elizabeth smiled.
She walked down the hallway knowing that she shouldn't be thinking of doing what she was, but there was no stopping her once she set her mind to something. No matter what ideas of Jason Morgan were floating around in her head, she still had a benefit to work on. If she just so happened to run into him – well then so be it, but running into Jason was all she silently hoped for.
"ROCCO!" Elizabeth gasped as she walked by the dining room and saw her father in law clutching his chest. "Where are your pills?"
He tried to put his hand in his pocket but another stabbing pain ripped through his chest. Elizabeth wasted little time in reaching into his pocket pulling out a small pill case that held Rocco's nitroglycerin tablets. Instinctively, Elizabeth placed the first of three pills under his tongue. By the time the second had dissolved, she could see a noticeable improvement but administered the last one just the same.
"Thank you," he said once he was finally able to speak.
"We really should call Dr. Aber," Elizabeth remarked shaken by the whole experience. Dealing with her father in law's condition brought back so many memories of her own mother that at times Elizabeth didn't know if she could stand to watch another person she loved die. She did love Rocco Malucci. He was her protector, but it had come to be more than that in the last weeks. It was as if they had formed and unexplainable bond. It tore at her heart to know that sooner than she wanted that bond would be broken.
"Nonsense."
"I have to disagree Rocco. This was one of the worst attacks that I have witnessed. I am calling Dr. Aber."
"Please, don't make a fuss. I am fine now. I just need to lie down. Could you have Jack bring me back to my room?"
"I don't like this," Elizabeth countered.
"I'm an old man Elizabeth. An old man who is dying. I don't want to be poked and prodded to just be told that there is nothing they can do for me. I already know that. Please just ring for Jack."
Elizabeth swallowed the tears that threatened to fall and was suddenly consumed by sheer grief. She wondered why life was so cruel. Why was a good man like Rocco dying when his son was the one who deserved all the agony and pain his father had to endure? Elizabeth complied with his request and spoke into the intercom, summoning Jack into the room.
"Thank you," Rocco whispered.
"I was just heading out," she began, "but I think it would be wise if I stayed close to home."
"That's nonsense. You go attend to whatever it is that you need to do. I will be just fine."
Elizabeth had her doubts regarding his last statement. "I would feel much better if I just stayed home. Besides, Emily and I can discuss the caterer for the benefit over the phone if we have to."
"Elizabeth," Rocco's shaky hand reached for hers. "Please don't make me feel like I have kept you a prisoner in this house. I will be fine. I just need to get some rest. Please go meet with Emily. Make this benefit spectacular. That's what I really want you to do."
Elizabeth looked into his soft green eyes and couldn't refuse him. "I still don't like this, but I will go," she relented. "I am going to call and check up on you though," she smiled broadly again holding back her tears.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Rocco returned with a smile of his own.
Elizabeth shifted nervously in the driver's seat as she watched the man behind the glass window make the appropriate call to the main house. She knew that her visit was an unexpected one and hoped that she had done the right thing in just dropping by unannounced.
"Mrs. Malucci," the man said, "Miss Emily will be waiting for you. If you would park your car in front of the house and leave the keys in the ignition, it will be parked for you."
"Thank you," Elizabeth smiled as she made her way up the long winding driveway. Suddenly her anticipation at the possibility of seeing Jason was all consuming. She felt like she had back in high school when she had asked a boy to the Sadie Hawkins Dance. It was exhilarating yet it was terrifying as well. She did as instructed, left her car and went to ring the doorbell.
"I'll get it." She heard a muffled voice from the other side. "Elizabeth??" Jason couldn't hide his surprise.
"Hello Jason," she said hearing her voice quiver and hoping that he hadn't.
"I didn't know Emily was expecting you today?" His statement came out more as a question as he tried desperately to concentrate on the words he was speaking. He was not finding that to be an easy task with her so close.
"Actually she didn't either."
"Excuse me?"
"I was just thinking that we don't have all that much time to plan this benefit and looking at all the things that are left to do, I just thought we better get started." Elizabeth heard her voice race, as her sentences became nothing more than a jumbled mass of words. She blushed feeling like a nervous schoolgirl.
"Jason," Joseph said coming up behind him. "Aren't you going to ask our guest in?"
"Oh – yes, come in."
"It's nice to see you again Elizabeth." Joseph offered his hand. "How is Rocco today?"
"Not so good I am afraid."
"Meaning?" Joseph's brow furrowed with concern.
"He had some chest pains earlier. Rather bad ones I would have to say. I wanted to stay home, but he insisted on my working on the benefit."
"Sounds very much like Rocco," Joseph concurred. It was obvious to him that his life long friend was far worse than he had wanted anymore to know. That thought saddened and worried him. Joseph was somber at the idea of losing his dear friend and distressed at the turmoil he was certain would ensue upon Rocco's demise. "You could call to check on him if you would like," he added sensing that she was worried as well.
"If you wouldn't mind, I would like to do that. I think I might call Dr. Aber too if that's all right with you."
"Certainly, make all the calls you need to. Once you are finished, why don't you meet me and my family out on the patio? We were just about to sit down to lunch. You will join us won't you?"
"If it's not too much of an intrusion. I realize that I just showed up unannounced. It didn't even dawn on me that it was noontime."
"There's always room for one more at our table."
"Thank you Mr. Morgan," Elizabeth said softly.
"Jason, would you show Elizabeth to my study? I am sure she would like to make her calls in private."
Jason closed the door to the study as he let out a heavy sigh running his hands across his weary face. Each time he thought he had a handle on his emotions, he was forced to encounter another bump in the road. Having Elizabeth in his very house and him having to feign no feelings for her would be laborious. In his heart Jason knew he wouldn't be able to do that. Emily would see right through him and he was having his doubts that his father wouldn't be able to do the same. Jason shook his head thinking that this was going to be the most tedious lunch of his life.
"I trust all is well at the house?" Joseph asked as Elizabeth slipped into the vacant seat next to Jason.
"Yes it is. Helena informed me that my father in law has been sleeping since I left and Dr. Aber will be heading to the house as well. Just to make a cursory check on Rocco.
"I am glad to hear that." Joseph smiled.
"Mrs. Morgan," Elizabeth directed her words toward Cassandra. "I am sorry for disturbing your family lunch. I didn't even think of the time when I left the house. The only thing I had on my mind was the benefit and how much work we have still to accomplish," Elizabeth lied, never once letting her eyes reveal her true reasons for being in the Morgan house again.
"I hope you understand that Emily is quite busy with her own affairs," Cassandra Morgan returned curtly. "We are right in the middle of planning her wedding."
"I completely understand that. I assure you that I will not stand in the way of any of those preparations. I am just grateful for the assistance. I had no idea what an undertaking this truly would be," Elizabeth smiled sensing that the matriarch of the Morgan family was less than pleased about her daughter's involvement.
"Mama, please," Emily sounded distressed at her mother's obvious rude behavior. "I told you before I want to be a part of this charity event. It's a wonderful cause....."
"Besides," Jason cut his sister off. "I will also be part of the planning committee. I will be sure that Elizabeth doesn't work Emily too hard." Both young women at the table felt as if Jason had just rescued them from impending doom.
"How did you become involved?" Cassandra asked with an arched brow.
"I was just in the right place at the right time," Jason half- heartedly joked.
"Oh really?" Cassandra couldn't help but see the corners of her son's mouth begin to turn upward with those words. She attempted to catch her husband's attention across the table to no avail and wondered if he was getting the same vibes from their son as she was.
"So Elizabeth, Jason mentioned that Rocco has secured a great many things to be auctioned off."
"Yes, actually he has. It totally amazed me when he handed over the list. Not to mention your family's generous donation." Elizabeth took this opportunity to finally let her eyes rest on Jason's face.
"Well I trust my son's judgment. If he felt that the cause was worth that much, than I will back him one hundred percent. I am sure you are well aware there has been some bad blood between our families in the past, and I am hoping that we can start anew by pulling together for an event of this caliber."
Automatically Anthony's hidden words of disposing of his enemy leapt from her memory. It was so sad to her that the two older men of each family really thought that this event was something that would align their warring factions. In her heart Elizabeth couldn't help wonder if this wasn't really just the beginning of the end.
Lunch proceeded with mostly talk of the benefit and Emily's upcoming nuptials. Listening to how excited she sounded had Elizabeth longing for those days when she believed in true love. All those illusions had been shattered a long time ago, yet suddenly the man sitting beside her had Elizabeth wondering if maybe she could have her fairy tale after all. She shook her head in an attempt to rid herself of such thoughts. This wasn't supposed to be about finding true love, this was supposed to be about sticking it to her husband. Knowing just how Anthony felt about Jason Morgan made this a simple task, but Elizabeth's racing pulse whenever Jason was near complicated everything at the moment.
"Well I hate to break up this nice little party," Joseph began, "but Jason and I really need to be getting to the office." Elizabeth felt her shoulders drop at those words. She was thoroughly enjoying not only spending time with Jason but also in having a meal that didn't end up in one argument or another. She watched quietly as Joseph kissed his wife sweetly, holding back her own sigh. Elizabeth knew she was in a house of the most powerful Mafia Don in state of Illinois, yet by what she was observing no one would have known. She had to think that's what her father in law had meant when he alluded to the fact that his son didn't know how to live within the world as a whole. It was obvious that Joseph Morgan did. And that had Elizabeth wondering if perhaps his son did as well. The mere notion of that idea brought a smile and a tiny glimmer of hope that she wouldn't forever be trapped in hell.