Jason stood frozen, almost as if he was suspended in time as he
watched Elizabeth. Suddenly Emily's insistence that he be the one to
review this blues band made perfect sense to him. Elizabeth had her back
to where he stood and Jason took advantage of that fact. He was enjoying
observing her without her knowledge. Jason smiled as he stared at
Elizabeth bobbing her head to the music that drifted from the jukebox while
the patrons awaited the evening's main attraction. Looking at her now,
Jason found it hard to imagine that she was Anthony Malucci's wife.
Elizabeth was nothing like any of the Mafia wives he had come to know. He
couldn't help but wonder if that wasn't part of his attraction to her.
Jason's eyes caught the black fabric of Elizabeth's dress as it sparkled under the spotlights that danced around the tiny room. The deep "V" of the dress showed off just enough of Elizabeth's bare back to start a slow burn in Jason's loins. He made his way to the already crowded bar. "Two dry martinis please," he said as he laid a twenty-dollar bill on the lacquered surface. With drinks in hand, Jason headed in the direction of the small table where Elizabeth sat watching the members of the band as they were beginning to tune up for the night's performance. "Is this seat taken?" Jason asked in the form of a hushed whisper as he let his lips brush against Elizabeth's supple neck.
"JASON!?" Elizabeth turned around stunned to see him standing behind her. "You aren't Emily."
"Are you disappointed?" he pouted.
"NO," Elizabeth assured him as she reached out to touch his hand. "Is one of those for me?" She motioned to the two glasses in Jason's grasp.
"Yes." Jason took a seat alongside of Elizabeth as he drank her in. Each time he saw her, he found something new and attractive about her. At this very moment, it was her slender neck that he couldn't take his eyes off of. She had her hair in an upsweep with tiny ringlets cascading down to frame her face. It took all Jason had inside of him not to reach out and touch her. While Emily had obviously set up this little meeting, Jason had to remind himself that being in public with Anthony's wife was a less than an ideal situation.
"Thank you," she said as she reached for the frosted glass Jason sat in front of her. As they waited for the band to begin the first set, Elizabeth and Jason sat in an awkward silence. They were more like two high schoolers on their first date rather than the lovers that they actually were.
"So, this is the last detail that needs to be wrapped up for the benefit?" Jason questioned breaking the silence that surrounded the table.
"Yes. I am hoping that I get a chance to talk to their manager between sets. We really need a firm commitment from them regarding playing for the benefit."
"I'm sure that they would be more than happy to play for such a worthwhile cause. Besides, it would be great exposure for them," Jason said
"You would think, but Emily was hoping that they might play for free and personally I am having my doubts. I spoke with Dr. Harner the other day. He explained that the hospital budget for this event is only forty thousand dollars. With all that Emily and I have already done, we are fast approaching that mark. I am just concerned that we might be left without any entertainment."
"I'm sure that Morgan Enterprises could pick up the tab for the band if need be," Jason said without thinking. All he wanted to do was erase the look of worry that clouded Elizabeth's face.
"Jason, your company has already done enough for this event. You are matching all the funds raised. No, I will have to approach Anthony. Malucci Manufacturing will just have to pick up the cost of the band if the hospital's budget can't absorb it."
Jason felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand erect at the sound of Anthony's name and the thought of Elizabeth having to ask him for anything. "It wouldn't be any trouble for Morgan Enterprises to pick up the expense of the band," Jason reiterated. "It will be minimal at best."
"This is supposed to be Anthony's event," Elizabeth said eyeing Jason from across the table. "He didn't take too kindly to your generous off to begin with, and I certainly am not looking for a repeat performance from him."
"What do you mean 'repeat performance'? What did Anthony do to you?" Jason's voice grew louder as wild thoughts of what Malucci was capable of ran through his head.
"Come on Jason, be realistic. You mean to tell me you didn't know that your grand gesture was going to send Anthony through the roof?" Elizabeth pulled back and gave Jason an all knowing look.
"That wasn't my intention."
Elizabeth stifled a laugh. "Jason Morgan, you aren't a very good liar."
"What?" He shifted in his seat, not really wanting to continue with the direction in which this conversation was headed.
"Well Mr. Morgan," Elizabeth leaned in close enough that Jason could feel her hot breath on his cheek. "You can't fool me into believing that you didn't enjoy every minute of stealing Anthony's thunder or that you didn't know you were doing it!" Elizabeth traced the outline of Jason's jaw with the tip of her finger sending a shiver straight down his spine.
"I didn't do anything that Morgan Enterprises hasn't done for Dr. Harner and the hospital before. The Morgan family has always been a generous benefactor. Why should that change now just because Malucci Manufacturing is involved?"
"That's all semantics and you know it, Jason."
"Elizabeth I really don't think going to Anthony is the best way to handle this. You just said so yourself that he's none too happy about having to work with my family....."
"My point exactly. If he finds out that you are dumping more money into this and getting more recognition out of it, he'll ....."
"He'll what Elizabeth?" Jason feared the answer to that question.
"He's just going to be even more unbearable, that's all." Elizabeth looked deep into Jason's icy blue eyes and saw the fear that she had seen the very first time they had come together as one. Immediately she knew what he had to be thinking. Jason was thinking that their being together was too dangerous. He was thinking that each time they were together, it brought the chance that Anthony could find out about them closer to being a reality. This conversation wasn't helping matters any. It only served to feed Jason's fears. "Listen to me," Elizabeth took his hands in her own. "I can handled Anthony." Jason wasn't at all buying the conviction that Elizabeth was attempting to place in her voice. "He is my husband," she stressed.
"Yes, and a man who I know scares you to death!" Jason countered as he slipped his hands out of hers. Elizabeth turned away, unable to meet his intense gaze. She was indeed fearful of Anthony, but letting Jason in on that fact wouldn't get her anywhere at the moment, except maybe a one way ticket to finding herself all alone again. "Look at me Elizabeth." Jason forced her azure eyes to meet his. "Please don't push Anthony just to prove some point. Let me take care of the money for the band or better yet, I could have Emily ask Papa. Anything would be better than you having to ask Anthony for it."
"Jason, please stop this!" Elizabeth cried. "I am asking Anthony for the money and that's final. I can't let you do this!"
"Elizabeth......"
"NO!" She cut him off before he was able to say anymore. "You and your company have done enough."
Jason studied her carefully. It wasn't hard for him to see that there was no budging her regarding the subject. It was that determination that frightened and excited him in the very same breath. "Would you at least consider discussing it with Rocco rather than Anthony? My father has a great respect for him. I can't help but think that he would be far more receptive than his son." Jason held his breath as he waited for Elizabeth to answer.
"Please just let me handle this. I can deal with Anthony. I know you don't believe me, but really I can."
Jason sat his empty martini glass down hard on the faux grain table. His frustration was getting the better of him. The awkward silence had returned as neither of them would look at the other. Elizabeth knew how much their relationship could cost Jason, while he sat thinking that one false move on either of their parts could endanger Elizabeth's life. Both sat stymied by those notions, and also by the fact that the idea of never seeing the other again left them feeling barren.
"Jason....Elizabeth....." They spoke in unison.
"You first," Jason said in his usual gentleman like manner.
"Why are we fighting?" she questioned. "Why are we wasting your sister's handy work?" She smiled her brilliant smile. It was a smile that could stop Jason in his tracks.
"I...."
"I know," Elizabeth said. "I know what you are going to say, and don't. I know the risks. You know the risks, but tonight can we just forget them and pretend?" Elizabeth leaned in and parted Jason's lips with her tongue as it explored a mouth she had grown to know so well in a short time.
"I guess I will have to thank Emily for her little white lie," Jason said in a breathless tone when they finally parted.
"Lie?"
"Yeah, she fed me some story about the orchids for the wedding being ruined and well, it doesn't really matter now. Would you do me the honor of dancing with me?" he asked putting his own fears aside as he let himself get lost in the bluesy sound of the saxophone and the sensation of Elizabeth's body against his.
A pair of peering eyes watched from a corner table as Jason and Elizabeth danced circles around the others in the club. The man looked on as the pair enacted their own game of foreplay on the dance floor. He felt his own manhood stand erect as he stared at Jason and Elizabeth bumping and grinding to the rhythmic beat of the music that filled Blue Chicago. Before he lost all sense of control over himself, the man with the haggard face pulled his cell phone from his jacket pocket. "I wonder if the boss knows about this?" he said to himself as he dialed.
The persistent ringing coming from the pair of trousers that lay disheveled on the floor beckoned to Anthony. He rolled over and hung his body half off the bed while his lady of the day teased his erect form. "THIS BETTER BE FUCKING GOOD!!!" Anthony's angry voice spat.
"I think you might be interested in what a certain someone is up to," Ralphie answered calmly while he continued to watch Jason and Elizabeth heat up the dance floor.
Anthony shot straight up in bed, almost pushing the young blonde to the floor. "Reggie's a dead man!" Anthony raged at the thought of being crossed by one of his most trusted men. "I knew that dumb fuck would head straight for the Morgans!"
"It's not Reggie who you need to be worried about." Ralphie couldn't help but come off as sounding a bit cocky. It was hard not to when Anthony's wife stood before him kissing Jason Morgan of all people.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Anthony stood up searching for his clothes as he waited for Ralphie to continue.
"What I'm saying is I think it's time you look a little closer to home."
"WHAT!?"
"When it comes to Jason Morgan, Reggie, well – he ain't your problem."
"Then who the hell is?!" Anthony's tone was a harsh whisper. He knew the answer to his question without even having to hear it.
"Why don't you meet me at Blue Chicago and see for yourself?" Ralphie didn't want to be the one to tell his boss that his wife was fraternizing with the enemy.
"Why don't you just tell me what I need to know?" Anthony's fuse was growing shorter by the minute. Ralphie's silence only served to anger him all the more. "If you aren't tailing Reggie, then who the fuck are you talking about?" Anthony needed to hear the words. He needed to hear that Elizabeth had actually thought that she was pulling the wool over his eyes when it came to her desire to be with Jason Morgan.
"Boss – no disrespect man, but your wife – she's ..."
"The one with Jason Morgan, isn't she?" Anthony asked before his underling was able to finish.
"Yes," the other man concurred.
"That little bitch," Anthony said under his breath.
"You want me to keep an eye on them?"
"No, I will handle this personally!" Anthony's voice dripped with venom. The tiny cell phone went careening across the posh hotel suite before Ralphie had even known the conversation was over. Anthony, at the moment, was seeing red. "Well, Elizabeth, everything in this life comes at a price, and you are just about to find out how high yours is."
"Tony, baby, where are you going?" The buxom blonde cooed as Anthony headed for the door. "We weren't finished." She let her hand caress his manly form through the thin fabric of his dress pants. Even the thought of some good sex wasn't enough to erase the rage Anthony felt. The only thing that loomed large in his mind was making Elizabeth pay for her stupidity.
"ENOUGH!!" Anthony bellowed, throwing the young girl to the floor. She sat wide-eyed as he paced around the room and attempted to collect his thoughts enough to form a plan.
"Well what did the manager say?" Jason asked Elizabeth as she joined him at their table.
"Looks like it's a go."
"And the money? Can the hospital budget handle it?" Jason's eyes questioned as he spoke.
"Most of it," Elizabeth lied, not wanting to revisit their earlier argument.
"Most of it?" he echoed. "Does that mean you do or don't need to ask Anthony for the money?"
"Jason....." The cell phone ringing inside her handbag stopped Elizabeth from continuing. "I really need to get that. I told Helena she could reach me if Rocco needed anything. He hasn't been doing very well these past few days. Hello Helena, is everything all right with Rocco?" she asked before letting the person on the other end of the phone speak.
"Well, if your were home instead of out dancing the night away you might know the answer to that question yourself, my dear!" Anthony's voice cut through her like a knife.
"Is everything all right with Rocco?" Elizabeth asked again trying to keep her voice even.
"I wouldn't know any more than you. Seems we both are quite busy at the moment," Anthony said with a steely tone.
"I am glad to hear he's resting comfortably." Elizabeth stole a quick sideways glance at Jason as she continued on with the original pretense of the phone call. "Is there something else that you needed me for?"
"You better wise up, my dear wife!" Anthony said with a hoarse whisper.
"Oh really?" Elizabeth felt her body shudder. She was glad that she wasn't able to see her husband's face, yet her mind was able to conjure up the image of his cold, calculating eyes boring holes through her body.
"You're not as smart as you think you are!"
With those words, the line that connected Anthony and Elizabeth went dead. Suddenly Elizabeth felt as if she was in a vacuum. Her chest tightened with anxiety. Without even saying it, she knew that Anthony knew where she was and whom she was with. That fear engulfed her so much so that she couldn't move or speak. She was completely frozen.
"Elizabeth?" Jason touched her arm softly. "Is everything all right? Is Rocco okay?" It wasn't hard for Jason to see the total change in her demeanor.
"Yes – yes he's fine." She attempted to appear normal, but that was a difficult task at best as Anthony's words circled her mind.
"Then what's wrong?"
"Nothing – nothing's wrong." Elizabeth gave him a half smile.
"That call wasn't from home was it?" Jason questioned his own fears beginning to heighten.
"Of course it was." Elizabeth tried to sound convincing.
"I don't believe you. Who were you talking to?"
"No one important."
"Elizabeth." Jason persisted not believing her in the least bit.
"If you must know, it was my father." She attempted a quick save. She couldn't tell Jason the truth. She couldn't let him know that his greatest fear had just been well founded. She couldn't tell him that she thought that Anthony knew about them.
"What did your father want at this hour of the night?" Jason gave her a skeptical glance. He could see for himself how shaken she was by the phone call. It resembled the same look that she had worn the night she had shown up at the Drake Hotel. Anthony had been the cause of her fear that evening and Jason was more than certain he had been tonight as well.
"He's worried about the benefit."
"Worried how? You and Emily seem to have it under control."
"He's expecting this event to springboard his senatorial campaign." Elizabeth rolled her eyes at the mere thoughts of her father being Anthony's puppet. "He's just a little nervous. Would you mind getting me another drink?" she asked, hoping to change the subject and a stiff drink would calm her frayed nerves.
"Would you mind telling me the truth?" Jason countered looking Elizabeth directly in the eye.
"There's nothing more to tell. My father is a bit on edge about all of this. There's nothing more to it than that." Elizabeth heard her voice quiver.
"I don't buy it! That phone call wasn't from your father. It was from Anthony, wasn't it?" Jason felt the knot in his stomach tighten.
"NO!!" Elizabeth exclaimed.
"I don't believe you, Elizabeth. Look at you. You're about ready to jump out of your skin."
"I'm fine Jason. I think you are seeing things that aren't there." Elizabeth leaned in to kiss him, but he moved away before she was able to make contact with his lips. "I don't want to fight with you!" she cried.
Jason was too busy scanning the room to even hear her. His eyes came to rest on a single man sitting in the far corner of the room. Why hadn't he noticed the man earlier? Jason scolded himself. He couldn't place him, but in his gut he knew that the guy was one of the Malucci soldiers. Jason felt the bile rise from his stomach into his throat. The man sitting in the shadows had just made him and Elizabeth. No matter how much Elizabeth denied it, Jason knew that that phone call was from Anthony.
"LET'S GO!!" Jason growled pulling Elizabeth by the arm.
"Jason???"
"LET'S GO!" he bellowed again.
Elizabeth followed along behind Jason not by choice but more by order. He wound his way through the streets of Chicago until Elizabeth herself was confused as to where they were. "STOP!!" she finally yelled and pulled her arm from Jason's hold. "What the hell are we doing Jason?"
"We're walking."
"Very funny. Where are we walking to? Better yet, why are we walking?"
"You ask too many questions." Jason's head was swimming. All the anxieties and fears about what could happen to Elizabeth if Anthony was ever to catch wind of their affair bombarded him. As of tonight this relationship was over. He couldn't take the chance that Elizabeth would be harmed in any way, yet the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach told him that even if he broke off this affair, Elizabeth could very well still be in danger. "Follow me," Jason instructed as he opened a dimly lit doorway in the alley they were standing in.
Elizabeth traced Jason's steps with her own as they made their way down a long corridor. On the other side of the wall she could hear the clanging of pots, pans and muffled voices. "Where are we?" she questioned.
"You will see soon enough."
They stopped at a single elevator when the long hallway came to an end. Jason pressed the button and waited. Upon the car's arrival he ushered her inside quickly as he selected the only available button. It contained no visible markings, giving Elizabeth no indication where they were headed. She only knew they were going up. The elevator came to a stop and the doors slid open to reveal Jason's penthouse. The very same penthouse that he had taken her not so long ago. "How?" she asked unable to say much more than that.
"Let's just say it's for quick getaways and leave it at that." Jason walked to the bar and poured himself a double scotch. He knew that he would need its effects if he was to find the courage to let the beautiful creature he found in Elizabeth go.
"Would you mind?" Elizabeth asked picking up the bottle herself. Jason nodded his approval.
"Elizabeth we need to talk." Jason moved away from her. He needed the distance to keep a clear head.
"About?" she questioned not liking the tone his voice carried.
"Anthony."
"Why?" She almost cried.
"Because I know damn well he was the one who called you tonight."
"I swear he wasn't!" Elizabeth could feel what was coming next before Jason even spoke the words. She wasn't about to let this happen. She wasn't going to let Anthony steal one more thing from her.
"Now who's the bad liar?" Jason mocked.
"What if he was the one who called? That doesn't mean he knows anything!" Elizabeth heard how desperate she sounded.
"You don't believe that anymore than I do." Jason's mind still held a clear picture of Anthony's man sitting in the corner watching them. He had seen things that Jason had been foolish enough to think he could get away with in public. Jason had let Elizabeth talk him into playing make believe that evening, and now she would be the one to pay the price for it. "Besides, I was a fool to think that we could do this."
"WE CAN!" Elizabeth turned to him with tears pooling in her cerulean eyes.
"NO WE CAN'T!!" he countered forcefully. "This ends tonight."
"NO – NO!!" Elizabeth slammed her half-empty glass of scotch on the bar.
"YES! It has to. Elizabeth, Anthony is having you followed. Don't you get what that means? You are in danger."
"I don't care." Her voice was barely audible.
"I do!"
"Why? Why do you care? It's my life and my risks."
"That's not true, and you know it."
"I love you Jason!" Tears were now streaming down Elizabeth's face.
Those words almost strangled Jason's heart. The contorted cries that filled her face ripped through his soul. "This has to end." Jason stood firm in his conviction while he tried to hide his own tears. He couldn't let Elizabeth grab hold of his feelings. If that happened, they would be right back where they started.
"NO!!"
"Elizabeth, you are treading on thin ice and you don't even realize that you are about to fall through!" Jason said exasperated at her wanting to take such a chance with her life.
"I don't care!"
"DAMN IT, I DO!!" Jason yelled closing the gap between them as he came to shake some sense into her. "I couldn't live with myself if harm came to you because of me!"
"Then why are you walking away?" she questioned like a small child fearful of letting go of their mommy's hand on the first day of kindergarten.
"Because I have to."
"No you don't!"
"Elizabeth, baby, I do. I know you don't want to see it, but I do. Anthony already knows. Things will only get worse from here," Jason cried in anguish.
"Damn you Jason Morgan – damn you!!" Elizabeth yelled as she picked up a glass from the bar and sent it flying to the floor. It crashed into a thousand pieces. Without warning a torrent of tears followed as Elizabeth dropped to her knees. She felt as shattered as the glass that lay all around her. Jason stood helpless. He knew that if he went to her it would give her a mixed signal, but his heart wouldn't let him stand by and do nothing. A force outside of himself propelled Jason forward. He picked her up in his arms and cradled her body against his.
"I don't want to let you go – really I don't," he cried.
"Then don't." Elizabeth brought her mouth to his. At first the kisses were light as a feather but they quickly deepened into passionate ones. While his head told him to push her away, Jason played a willing participant in the action. He carried her over to the supple black leather sofa and laid her there. He missed her warmth the instant she was no longer next to him. Elizabeth toyed with the stiff collar of his chambray shirt letting her fingers gently play with his neck.
"Elizabeth," Jason whispered in protest.
"Shhhh...." She placed her finger on his lips. Pulling herself to a sitting position, Elizabeth carefully undid the buttons and slid the velvety fabric off his shoulders. He tried to hold back the shivers that filled him as he felt Elizabeth's gentle touch grazing his skin. She dropped the shirt to the ground. Effortlessly she rubbed her hands along Jason's smooth sculptured chest. He held his breath as her fingertips played at the waistband of his black denim jeans. Elizabeth pushed Jason back against the cool leather of the sofa as she lifted her dress above her hips. In doing so she revealed to Jason her black lace panties and garter. His breathing quickened as she brought her body against his, her tongue tracing the tuft of hair leading to what she desired most.
Without much thought on his part, Jason lifted Elizabeth's tiny black dress over her head and unfastened her bra. Her perky breasts fell forward. Next to be removed were the garter and panties. There she sat naked before him. Jason sat up a little, resting his back against the arm of the sofa. This in turn placed Elizabeth's most feminine spot directly over his bulging manhood that was begging for release. Jason brought his hands to Elizabeth's chest and cupped her breasts. She let out a soft moan as his fingers kneaded each of her nipples. She felt the electricity racing through her body. Jason moved his hands slowly. He could feel that she was moist with anticipation. He teased her gently with his fingers to the point that Elizabeth thought she would explode at any second, yet he wouldn't offer her release. Jason enjoyed watching the pleasure that filled her face. He relished the idea that he was the cause of it.
Reaching for the hand that still held her breast, Elizabeth began suckling each of Jason's fingers. Methodically, she let her tongue circle each digit until Jason too was seeing stars. Finally when neither of them could take much more, Jason's jeans found their way to the floor among the other articles of clothing that lay there. Elizabeth eased herself onto Jason slowly at first as he brought his hands to her backside. His mere touch sent skyrockets through her body. Their pace steadily quickened until their bodies were one. Exhausted, Elizabeth laid her head against Jason's chest and listened as his pounding heart returned to a normal beat.
"I love you," Jason whispered before even realizing those three tiny words escaped his lips. Jason Morgan wasn't a man that fell into the trappings of love. In all of his dating years, Jason couldn't recall ever uttering those three words that held such great power, to anyone. Yet with Elizabeth, he had wanted to shout them from the rooftops time and time again. Jason gazed at her lovingly and knew he couldn't continue to deny what his heart was screaming, but he still had to find a way to protect her through the war the he knew loomed on the horizon.
"I love you too, Jason."
Joseph and Cassandra milled through the many people crowding the lobby of the Stage Right Dinner Theater. The giddy, comedic play had given Joseph a short reprieve from his troubles, but now that had come to an end.
"Why don't we go for a nightcap?" Cassandra asked as she linked her arms with her husband.
"That would be nice," he said. Joseph was in no hurry to return home and face Jason's hard stares or arguments about Anthony Malucci.
Joseph and Cassandra joined the others who were standing on the corner waiting for the walk signal to sound. Finally, the high pitched sound permeated the air. Then, from out of nowhere, a black sedan came speeding through the intersection and nearly struck Cassandra head on.
Jason's eyes caught the black fabric of Elizabeth's dress as it sparkled under the spotlights that danced around the tiny room. The deep "V" of the dress showed off just enough of Elizabeth's bare back to start a slow burn in Jason's loins. He made his way to the already crowded bar. "Two dry martinis please," he said as he laid a twenty-dollar bill on the lacquered surface. With drinks in hand, Jason headed in the direction of the small table where Elizabeth sat watching the members of the band as they were beginning to tune up for the night's performance. "Is this seat taken?" Jason asked in the form of a hushed whisper as he let his lips brush against Elizabeth's supple neck.
"JASON!?" Elizabeth turned around stunned to see him standing behind her. "You aren't Emily."
"Are you disappointed?" he pouted.
"NO," Elizabeth assured him as she reached out to touch his hand. "Is one of those for me?" She motioned to the two glasses in Jason's grasp.
"Yes." Jason took a seat alongside of Elizabeth as he drank her in. Each time he saw her, he found something new and attractive about her. At this very moment, it was her slender neck that he couldn't take his eyes off of. She had her hair in an upsweep with tiny ringlets cascading down to frame her face. It took all Jason had inside of him not to reach out and touch her. While Emily had obviously set up this little meeting, Jason had to remind himself that being in public with Anthony's wife was a less than an ideal situation.
"Thank you," she said as she reached for the frosted glass Jason sat in front of her. As they waited for the band to begin the first set, Elizabeth and Jason sat in an awkward silence. They were more like two high schoolers on their first date rather than the lovers that they actually were.
"So, this is the last detail that needs to be wrapped up for the benefit?" Jason questioned breaking the silence that surrounded the table.
"Yes. I am hoping that I get a chance to talk to their manager between sets. We really need a firm commitment from them regarding playing for the benefit."
"I'm sure that they would be more than happy to play for such a worthwhile cause. Besides, it would be great exposure for them," Jason said
"You would think, but Emily was hoping that they might play for free and personally I am having my doubts. I spoke with Dr. Harner the other day. He explained that the hospital budget for this event is only forty thousand dollars. With all that Emily and I have already done, we are fast approaching that mark. I am just concerned that we might be left without any entertainment."
"I'm sure that Morgan Enterprises could pick up the tab for the band if need be," Jason said without thinking. All he wanted to do was erase the look of worry that clouded Elizabeth's face.
"Jason, your company has already done enough for this event. You are matching all the funds raised. No, I will have to approach Anthony. Malucci Manufacturing will just have to pick up the cost of the band if the hospital's budget can't absorb it."
Jason felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand erect at the sound of Anthony's name and the thought of Elizabeth having to ask him for anything. "It wouldn't be any trouble for Morgan Enterprises to pick up the expense of the band," Jason reiterated. "It will be minimal at best."
"This is supposed to be Anthony's event," Elizabeth said eyeing Jason from across the table. "He didn't take too kindly to your generous off to begin with, and I certainly am not looking for a repeat performance from him."
"What do you mean 'repeat performance'? What did Anthony do to you?" Jason's voice grew louder as wild thoughts of what Malucci was capable of ran through his head.
"Come on Jason, be realistic. You mean to tell me you didn't know that your grand gesture was going to send Anthony through the roof?" Elizabeth pulled back and gave Jason an all knowing look.
"That wasn't my intention."
Elizabeth stifled a laugh. "Jason Morgan, you aren't a very good liar."
"What?" He shifted in his seat, not really wanting to continue with the direction in which this conversation was headed.
"Well Mr. Morgan," Elizabeth leaned in close enough that Jason could feel her hot breath on his cheek. "You can't fool me into believing that you didn't enjoy every minute of stealing Anthony's thunder or that you didn't know you were doing it!" Elizabeth traced the outline of Jason's jaw with the tip of her finger sending a shiver straight down his spine.
"I didn't do anything that Morgan Enterprises hasn't done for Dr. Harner and the hospital before. The Morgan family has always been a generous benefactor. Why should that change now just because Malucci Manufacturing is involved?"
"That's all semantics and you know it, Jason."
"Elizabeth I really don't think going to Anthony is the best way to handle this. You just said so yourself that he's none too happy about having to work with my family....."
"My point exactly. If he finds out that you are dumping more money into this and getting more recognition out of it, he'll ....."
"He'll what Elizabeth?" Jason feared the answer to that question.
"He's just going to be even more unbearable, that's all." Elizabeth looked deep into Jason's icy blue eyes and saw the fear that she had seen the very first time they had come together as one. Immediately she knew what he had to be thinking. Jason was thinking that their being together was too dangerous. He was thinking that each time they were together, it brought the chance that Anthony could find out about them closer to being a reality. This conversation wasn't helping matters any. It only served to feed Jason's fears. "Listen to me," Elizabeth took his hands in her own. "I can handled Anthony." Jason wasn't at all buying the conviction that Elizabeth was attempting to place in her voice. "He is my husband," she stressed.
"Yes, and a man who I know scares you to death!" Jason countered as he slipped his hands out of hers. Elizabeth turned away, unable to meet his intense gaze. She was indeed fearful of Anthony, but letting Jason in on that fact wouldn't get her anywhere at the moment, except maybe a one way ticket to finding herself all alone again. "Look at me Elizabeth." Jason forced her azure eyes to meet his. "Please don't push Anthony just to prove some point. Let me take care of the money for the band or better yet, I could have Emily ask Papa. Anything would be better than you having to ask Anthony for it."
"Jason, please stop this!" Elizabeth cried. "I am asking Anthony for the money and that's final. I can't let you do this!"
"Elizabeth......"
"NO!" She cut him off before he was able to say anymore. "You and your company have done enough."
Jason studied her carefully. It wasn't hard for him to see that there was no budging her regarding the subject. It was that determination that frightened and excited him in the very same breath. "Would you at least consider discussing it with Rocco rather than Anthony? My father has a great respect for him. I can't help but think that he would be far more receptive than his son." Jason held his breath as he waited for Elizabeth to answer.
"Please just let me handle this. I can deal with Anthony. I know you don't believe me, but really I can."
Jason sat his empty martini glass down hard on the faux grain table. His frustration was getting the better of him. The awkward silence had returned as neither of them would look at the other. Elizabeth knew how much their relationship could cost Jason, while he sat thinking that one false move on either of their parts could endanger Elizabeth's life. Both sat stymied by those notions, and also by the fact that the idea of never seeing the other again left them feeling barren.
"Jason....Elizabeth....." They spoke in unison.
"You first," Jason said in his usual gentleman like manner.
"Why are we fighting?" she questioned. "Why are we wasting your sister's handy work?" She smiled her brilliant smile. It was a smile that could stop Jason in his tracks.
"I...."
"I know," Elizabeth said. "I know what you are going to say, and don't. I know the risks. You know the risks, but tonight can we just forget them and pretend?" Elizabeth leaned in and parted Jason's lips with her tongue as it explored a mouth she had grown to know so well in a short time.
"I guess I will have to thank Emily for her little white lie," Jason said in a breathless tone when they finally parted.
"Lie?"
"Yeah, she fed me some story about the orchids for the wedding being ruined and well, it doesn't really matter now. Would you do me the honor of dancing with me?" he asked putting his own fears aside as he let himself get lost in the bluesy sound of the saxophone and the sensation of Elizabeth's body against his.
A pair of peering eyes watched from a corner table as Jason and Elizabeth danced circles around the others in the club. The man looked on as the pair enacted their own game of foreplay on the dance floor. He felt his own manhood stand erect as he stared at Jason and Elizabeth bumping and grinding to the rhythmic beat of the music that filled Blue Chicago. Before he lost all sense of control over himself, the man with the haggard face pulled his cell phone from his jacket pocket. "I wonder if the boss knows about this?" he said to himself as he dialed.
The persistent ringing coming from the pair of trousers that lay disheveled on the floor beckoned to Anthony. He rolled over and hung his body half off the bed while his lady of the day teased his erect form. "THIS BETTER BE FUCKING GOOD!!!" Anthony's angry voice spat.
"I think you might be interested in what a certain someone is up to," Ralphie answered calmly while he continued to watch Jason and Elizabeth heat up the dance floor.
Anthony shot straight up in bed, almost pushing the young blonde to the floor. "Reggie's a dead man!" Anthony raged at the thought of being crossed by one of his most trusted men. "I knew that dumb fuck would head straight for the Morgans!"
"It's not Reggie who you need to be worried about." Ralphie couldn't help but come off as sounding a bit cocky. It was hard not to when Anthony's wife stood before him kissing Jason Morgan of all people.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Anthony stood up searching for his clothes as he waited for Ralphie to continue.
"What I'm saying is I think it's time you look a little closer to home."
"WHAT!?"
"When it comes to Jason Morgan, Reggie, well – he ain't your problem."
"Then who the hell is?!" Anthony's tone was a harsh whisper. He knew the answer to his question without even having to hear it.
"Why don't you meet me at Blue Chicago and see for yourself?" Ralphie didn't want to be the one to tell his boss that his wife was fraternizing with the enemy.
"Why don't you just tell me what I need to know?" Anthony's fuse was growing shorter by the minute. Ralphie's silence only served to anger him all the more. "If you aren't tailing Reggie, then who the fuck are you talking about?" Anthony needed to hear the words. He needed to hear that Elizabeth had actually thought that she was pulling the wool over his eyes when it came to her desire to be with Jason Morgan.
"Boss – no disrespect man, but your wife – she's ..."
"The one with Jason Morgan, isn't she?" Anthony asked before his underling was able to finish.
"Yes," the other man concurred.
"That little bitch," Anthony said under his breath.
"You want me to keep an eye on them?"
"No, I will handle this personally!" Anthony's voice dripped with venom. The tiny cell phone went careening across the posh hotel suite before Ralphie had even known the conversation was over. Anthony, at the moment, was seeing red. "Well, Elizabeth, everything in this life comes at a price, and you are just about to find out how high yours is."
"Tony, baby, where are you going?" The buxom blonde cooed as Anthony headed for the door. "We weren't finished." She let her hand caress his manly form through the thin fabric of his dress pants. Even the thought of some good sex wasn't enough to erase the rage Anthony felt. The only thing that loomed large in his mind was making Elizabeth pay for her stupidity.
"ENOUGH!!" Anthony bellowed, throwing the young girl to the floor. She sat wide-eyed as he paced around the room and attempted to collect his thoughts enough to form a plan.
"Well what did the manager say?" Jason asked Elizabeth as she joined him at their table.
"Looks like it's a go."
"And the money? Can the hospital budget handle it?" Jason's eyes questioned as he spoke.
"Most of it," Elizabeth lied, not wanting to revisit their earlier argument.
"Most of it?" he echoed. "Does that mean you do or don't need to ask Anthony for the money?"
"Jason....." The cell phone ringing inside her handbag stopped Elizabeth from continuing. "I really need to get that. I told Helena she could reach me if Rocco needed anything. He hasn't been doing very well these past few days. Hello Helena, is everything all right with Rocco?" she asked before letting the person on the other end of the phone speak.
"Well, if your were home instead of out dancing the night away you might know the answer to that question yourself, my dear!" Anthony's voice cut through her like a knife.
"Is everything all right with Rocco?" Elizabeth asked again trying to keep her voice even.
"I wouldn't know any more than you. Seems we both are quite busy at the moment," Anthony said with a steely tone.
"I am glad to hear he's resting comfortably." Elizabeth stole a quick sideways glance at Jason as she continued on with the original pretense of the phone call. "Is there something else that you needed me for?"
"You better wise up, my dear wife!" Anthony said with a hoarse whisper.
"Oh really?" Elizabeth felt her body shudder. She was glad that she wasn't able to see her husband's face, yet her mind was able to conjure up the image of his cold, calculating eyes boring holes through her body.
"You're not as smart as you think you are!"
With those words, the line that connected Anthony and Elizabeth went dead. Suddenly Elizabeth felt as if she was in a vacuum. Her chest tightened with anxiety. Without even saying it, she knew that Anthony knew where she was and whom she was with. That fear engulfed her so much so that she couldn't move or speak. She was completely frozen.
"Elizabeth?" Jason touched her arm softly. "Is everything all right? Is Rocco okay?" It wasn't hard for Jason to see the total change in her demeanor.
"Yes – yes he's fine." She attempted to appear normal, but that was a difficult task at best as Anthony's words circled her mind.
"Then what's wrong?"
"Nothing – nothing's wrong." Elizabeth gave him a half smile.
"That call wasn't from home was it?" Jason questioned his own fears beginning to heighten.
"Of course it was." Elizabeth tried to sound convincing.
"I don't believe you. Who were you talking to?"
"No one important."
"Elizabeth." Jason persisted not believing her in the least bit.
"If you must know, it was my father." She attempted a quick save. She couldn't tell Jason the truth. She couldn't let him know that his greatest fear had just been well founded. She couldn't tell him that she thought that Anthony knew about them.
"What did your father want at this hour of the night?" Jason gave her a skeptical glance. He could see for himself how shaken she was by the phone call. It resembled the same look that she had worn the night she had shown up at the Drake Hotel. Anthony had been the cause of her fear that evening and Jason was more than certain he had been tonight as well.
"He's worried about the benefit."
"Worried how? You and Emily seem to have it under control."
"He's expecting this event to springboard his senatorial campaign." Elizabeth rolled her eyes at the mere thoughts of her father being Anthony's puppet. "He's just a little nervous. Would you mind getting me another drink?" she asked, hoping to change the subject and a stiff drink would calm her frayed nerves.
"Would you mind telling me the truth?" Jason countered looking Elizabeth directly in the eye.
"There's nothing more to tell. My father is a bit on edge about all of this. There's nothing more to it than that." Elizabeth heard her voice quiver.
"I don't buy it! That phone call wasn't from your father. It was from Anthony, wasn't it?" Jason felt the knot in his stomach tighten.
"NO!!" Elizabeth exclaimed.
"I don't believe you, Elizabeth. Look at you. You're about ready to jump out of your skin."
"I'm fine Jason. I think you are seeing things that aren't there." Elizabeth leaned in to kiss him, but he moved away before she was able to make contact with his lips. "I don't want to fight with you!" she cried.
Jason was too busy scanning the room to even hear her. His eyes came to rest on a single man sitting in the far corner of the room. Why hadn't he noticed the man earlier? Jason scolded himself. He couldn't place him, but in his gut he knew that the guy was one of the Malucci soldiers. Jason felt the bile rise from his stomach into his throat. The man sitting in the shadows had just made him and Elizabeth. No matter how much Elizabeth denied it, Jason knew that that phone call was from Anthony.
"LET'S GO!!" Jason growled pulling Elizabeth by the arm.
"Jason???"
"LET'S GO!" he bellowed again.
Elizabeth followed along behind Jason not by choice but more by order. He wound his way through the streets of Chicago until Elizabeth herself was confused as to where they were. "STOP!!" she finally yelled and pulled her arm from Jason's hold. "What the hell are we doing Jason?"
"We're walking."
"Very funny. Where are we walking to? Better yet, why are we walking?"
"You ask too many questions." Jason's head was swimming. All the anxieties and fears about what could happen to Elizabeth if Anthony was ever to catch wind of their affair bombarded him. As of tonight this relationship was over. He couldn't take the chance that Elizabeth would be harmed in any way, yet the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach told him that even if he broke off this affair, Elizabeth could very well still be in danger. "Follow me," Jason instructed as he opened a dimly lit doorway in the alley they were standing in.
Elizabeth traced Jason's steps with her own as they made their way down a long corridor. On the other side of the wall she could hear the clanging of pots, pans and muffled voices. "Where are we?" she questioned.
"You will see soon enough."
They stopped at a single elevator when the long hallway came to an end. Jason pressed the button and waited. Upon the car's arrival he ushered her inside quickly as he selected the only available button. It contained no visible markings, giving Elizabeth no indication where they were headed. She only knew they were going up. The elevator came to a stop and the doors slid open to reveal Jason's penthouse. The very same penthouse that he had taken her not so long ago. "How?" she asked unable to say much more than that.
"Let's just say it's for quick getaways and leave it at that." Jason walked to the bar and poured himself a double scotch. He knew that he would need its effects if he was to find the courage to let the beautiful creature he found in Elizabeth go.
"Would you mind?" Elizabeth asked picking up the bottle herself. Jason nodded his approval.
"Elizabeth we need to talk." Jason moved away from her. He needed the distance to keep a clear head.
"About?" she questioned not liking the tone his voice carried.
"Anthony."
"Why?" She almost cried.
"Because I know damn well he was the one who called you tonight."
"I swear he wasn't!" Elizabeth could feel what was coming next before Jason even spoke the words. She wasn't about to let this happen. She wasn't going to let Anthony steal one more thing from her.
"Now who's the bad liar?" Jason mocked.
"What if he was the one who called? That doesn't mean he knows anything!" Elizabeth heard how desperate she sounded.
"You don't believe that anymore than I do." Jason's mind still held a clear picture of Anthony's man sitting in the corner watching them. He had seen things that Jason had been foolish enough to think he could get away with in public. Jason had let Elizabeth talk him into playing make believe that evening, and now she would be the one to pay the price for it. "Besides, I was a fool to think that we could do this."
"WE CAN!" Elizabeth turned to him with tears pooling in her cerulean eyes.
"NO WE CAN'T!!" he countered forcefully. "This ends tonight."
"NO – NO!!" Elizabeth slammed her half-empty glass of scotch on the bar.
"YES! It has to. Elizabeth, Anthony is having you followed. Don't you get what that means? You are in danger."
"I don't care." Her voice was barely audible.
"I do!"
"Why? Why do you care? It's my life and my risks."
"That's not true, and you know it."
"I love you Jason!" Tears were now streaming down Elizabeth's face.
Those words almost strangled Jason's heart. The contorted cries that filled her face ripped through his soul. "This has to end." Jason stood firm in his conviction while he tried to hide his own tears. He couldn't let Elizabeth grab hold of his feelings. If that happened, they would be right back where they started.
"NO!!"
"Elizabeth, you are treading on thin ice and you don't even realize that you are about to fall through!" Jason said exasperated at her wanting to take such a chance with her life.
"I don't care!"
"DAMN IT, I DO!!" Jason yelled closing the gap between them as he came to shake some sense into her. "I couldn't live with myself if harm came to you because of me!"
"Then why are you walking away?" she questioned like a small child fearful of letting go of their mommy's hand on the first day of kindergarten.
"Because I have to."
"No you don't!"
"Elizabeth, baby, I do. I know you don't want to see it, but I do. Anthony already knows. Things will only get worse from here," Jason cried in anguish.
"Damn you Jason Morgan – damn you!!" Elizabeth yelled as she picked up a glass from the bar and sent it flying to the floor. It crashed into a thousand pieces. Without warning a torrent of tears followed as Elizabeth dropped to her knees. She felt as shattered as the glass that lay all around her. Jason stood helpless. He knew that if he went to her it would give her a mixed signal, but his heart wouldn't let him stand by and do nothing. A force outside of himself propelled Jason forward. He picked her up in his arms and cradled her body against his.
"I don't want to let you go – really I don't," he cried.
"Then don't." Elizabeth brought her mouth to his. At first the kisses were light as a feather but they quickly deepened into passionate ones. While his head told him to push her away, Jason played a willing participant in the action. He carried her over to the supple black leather sofa and laid her there. He missed her warmth the instant she was no longer next to him. Elizabeth toyed with the stiff collar of his chambray shirt letting her fingers gently play with his neck.
"Elizabeth," Jason whispered in protest.
"Shhhh...." She placed her finger on his lips. Pulling herself to a sitting position, Elizabeth carefully undid the buttons and slid the velvety fabric off his shoulders. He tried to hold back the shivers that filled him as he felt Elizabeth's gentle touch grazing his skin. She dropped the shirt to the ground. Effortlessly she rubbed her hands along Jason's smooth sculptured chest. He held his breath as her fingertips played at the waistband of his black denim jeans. Elizabeth pushed Jason back against the cool leather of the sofa as she lifted her dress above her hips. In doing so she revealed to Jason her black lace panties and garter. His breathing quickened as she brought her body against his, her tongue tracing the tuft of hair leading to what she desired most.
Without much thought on his part, Jason lifted Elizabeth's tiny black dress over her head and unfastened her bra. Her perky breasts fell forward. Next to be removed were the garter and panties. There she sat naked before him. Jason sat up a little, resting his back against the arm of the sofa. This in turn placed Elizabeth's most feminine spot directly over his bulging manhood that was begging for release. Jason brought his hands to Elizabeth's chest and cupped her breasts. She let out a soft moan as his fingers kneaded each of her nipples. She felt the electricity racing through her body. Jason moved his hands slowly. He could feel that she was moist with anticipation. He teased her gently with his fingers to the point that Elizabeth thought she would explode at any second, yet he wouldn't offer her release. Jason enjoyed watching the pleasure that filled her face. He relished the idea that he was the cause of it.
Reaching for the hand that still held her breast, Elizabeth began suckling each of Jason's fingers. Methodically, she let her tongue circle each digit until Jason too was seeing stars. Finally when neither of them could take much more, Jason's jeans found their way to the floor among the other articles of clothing that lay there. Elizabeth eased herself onto Jason slowly at first as he brought his hands to her backside. His mere touch sent skyrockets through her body. Their pace steadily quickened until their bodies were one. Exhausted, Elizabeth laid her head against Jason's chest and listened as his pounding heart returned to a normal beat.
"I love you," Jason whispered before even realizing those three tiny words escaped his lips. Jason Morgan wasn't a man that fell into the trappings of love. In all of his dating years, Jason couldn't recall ever uttering those three words that held such great power, to anyone. Yet with Elizabeth, he had wanted to shout them from the rooftops time and time again. Jason gazed at her lovingly and knew he couldn't continue to deny what his heart was screaming, but he still had to find a way to protect her through the war the he knew loomed on the horizon.
"I love you too, Jason."
Joseph and Cassandra milled through the many people crowding the lobby of the Stage Right Dinner Theater. The giddy, comedic play had given Joseph a short reprieve from his troubles, but now that had come to an end.
"Why don't we go for a nightcap?" Cassandra asked as she linked her arms with her husband.
"That would be nice," he said. Joseph was in no hurry to return home and face Jason's hard stares or arguments about Anthony Malucci.
Joseph and Cassandra joined the others who were standing on the corner waiting for the walk signal to sound. Finally, the high pitched sound permeated the air. Then, from out of nowhere, a black sedan came speeding through the intersection and nearly struck Cassandra head on.