Chapter 3
"Elizabeth, these pictures are beautiful!" Laura exclaimed. She was sitting behind her desk the proofs Lucky had developed scattered across her desk. "I knew you were going to be perfect for this job." She looked up from her desk smiling.
Elizabeth returned Laura's smile with her own. "That's great," she replied without the same enthusiasm. She sat in the chair a little uncomfortable. When Lucky had told her the proofs were great, she'd thought he was just being nice. She hoped when she spoke to Laura the truth would come out. But here she sat listening the Laura gush over the pictures more sure about her idea than before. What was she going to do? How was she going to get out of this modelling thing without hurting Lucky and Laura?
Laura noticed Elizabeth's discomfort. "I know that you didn't have the greatest time at the photo shoot." Ha, it was torture, Elizabeth thought. "But I know it will get better. Lucky will be doing all of your pictures and we will try to make it as relaxed as possible for you." Still see Elizabeth's unease Laura asked, "You do want to do this, don't you?"
This was it. This was her chance to tell Laura the truth that she didn't want to be a model. She didn't want to be the new Face of Deception. She could see it Laura's eyes. Laura would be okay if she didn't want the job. "Well..."
"Of course she wants to do this," Lucky said walking into the office. "Why wouldn't she?" He walked up to Elizabeth and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Mom, this is our dream. This is what we've always wanted." He looked down at Elizabeth, back up to Laura and then back to Elizabeth. She smiled lovingly back at him.
Laura continued to look at Elizabeth. She was worried about her. Elizabeth didn't look as excited by this new venture as Lucky was. "Elizabeth, are you sure?"
"Yes… Laura, I'm very sure. It's just as Lucky said this is our dream," Elizabeth replied. She looked up at Lucky. He looked so happy. She didn't want to let him down.
Laura was quiet for a moment unsure what to do. Elizabeth's unease seemed to be gone. Maybe she had made a mistake. Maybe Elizabeth wasn't uncomfortable about being a model. If she were, Elizabeth would tell her. Of that Laura was certain. Elizabeth was never one to lie. "Okay great, let's look at these pictures. Lucky you did an amazing job. These pictures are fantastic."
"Thank you, but with Elizabeth as the model any picture would be great," he moved to stand beside Laura and looked down at the pictures scattered across the desk.
Elizabeth sat back and watched them. Laura began talking about more getting more proofs done and taking to advertisers to begin coming up with a campaign with Elizabeth as the centre. The more they talked about the future, the more Elizabeth just wanted to scream and run out of the office. She didn't know if she could handle months and months of this. The constant lying and pretending were getting to her. She felt guilty. They both looked so excited and she wasn't. For from it. She felt like she was betraying them, even though she was doing it for them.
"Elizabeth? --- Elizabeth." She looked up to see Laura staring at her.
"I'm sorry. What did you say?"
"I was just saying that I'll have the lawyers draw up the contracts and send them over for you to sign."
"Over my dead body!"
All three turned around to see Carly standing in the doorway. "There is no way in hell this little girl is going to be our new model for the Face of Deception," Carly stalked into the office and stopped at the desk.
"Carly, we agreed that I would head up the perfume line and you would be in charge of the cosmetics," Laura replied in a confused tone. "What's the problem?"
"What's the problem?" Carly waved her arms about and looked at Laura as if she had lost her mind. "What's the problem she asks? I'll tell you the problem. There is no way this goody-goody muffin face is going to be our model. Not while I still have equal say in this company." She looked at Elizabeth. If looks could kill I would be dead, Elizabeth thought. She never thought she would love that Carly hated her so much. Maybe this was her way out without having to hurt the people she loved. If Carly didn't want her for the model, then she wouldn't be the model.
"Carly, that is not your decision to make." Laura was beginning to get angry. She knew working with Carly was going to be trouble. "And you don't have equal say in this company. You only own 49 of the stock. Any final decision belongs to me."
"You know Sonny owns the other 1 and he would side with me in any matter."
"That's right. Bring Sonny into this. What's your big mobster husband going to do? Threaten us to do things your way?" Lucky piped up. He was angry. There was no way his dream, their dream, was going to end. He moved closer to Carly getting in her face. "I'm not afraid of Sonny."
"Lucky, don't," Elizabeth moved to stand in front of Lucky. She tried to push him towards the couch in the middle of the room, but he wouldn't move.
"Listen cousin, I don't need my husband to take care of you. That I could do all by myself."
"Carly, Lucky, stop it," Laura yelled. "This is not a school yard. This is my office. Let's sit down and discuss this like adults."
At first neither Carly nor Lucky moved. Elizabeth was afraid that they were actually going to start to fight. It was so out of character for Lucky. She had never seen him like that before. Carly backed away first.
"Laura, you're right. We need to settle this problem in a civilized manner." Carly moved to sit on the couch. "I don't want Elizabeth as the Face of Deception."
Laura sighed, "Why not?"
"I don't think she has what it takes. She wasn't what I envisaged as the Face of Deception. The Face of Deception is exotic and sultry. She's sexy and mysterious. She knows what she wants and gets it." She looked to Elizabeth. "That little girl isn't the Face of Deception." Elizabeth stared at her. The one person who has always hated her was the only one speaking the truth. She didn't know if she should be insulted or thank her.
"What! You don't know anything." Lucky said angrily. "Who gave you…"
"Lucky, stop it," Elizabeth interrupted. "Carly owns this company with Laura. She has the right to her opinion."
"She's lying. You are perfect for the job. She knows it. She just doesn't like the fact that my mother thought of it and she didn't."
"That's not true," she needed to calm him down. She didn't want him and Carly to start up again. "You know what? Let's leave Carly and Laura to discuss this." She looked at the two women for agreement. "It's their company and their decision." She grabbed his hand and pulled him to the door. "Laura, let me know what you've decided, okay?" At Laura nod and Carly snarl, she continued out the door with Lucky following behind.
She was glad to be out there. This situation was getting more and more complicated. She had to find a way to fix this without hurting Lucky and Laura.
"I can't believe that woman," Lucky exclaimed. "Who does she think she is? This company was my mother's idea. What right does she have to object to her choice?"
"Lucky, Carly has every right to object to me as the Face of Deception. She is the part owner."
As they entered the elevator, Lucky turned her around and looked into her eyes. "Why aren't you upset?"
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Carly can destroy our dreams and you're calm. You seem okay with it. Why aren't you as mad as I am?"
What do I say, she thought. Carly's my saviour. She may have saved me from months of lying and pretending. "Lucky, she not going to destroy our dreams. We have more going than that. I'm sure that Laura will convince Carly that I'm the right choice." This was the perfect time to see his reaction, she thought. "And anyway, even if they find someone else, it won't be the end of the world. We'll still be together."
"What, how can you say that?" Lucky began pacing around the elevator. "Elizabeth, this is our dream. How can you say it won't be the end of the world?" He stopped pacing when the elevator door opened. "I'm not going to let Carly ruin our dream. You'll see." Without looking back he walked away.
Elizabeth called after him, but he didn't stop. She didn't know what to do or say. Nothing she did seemed to work. She was worried about what he would do. Lucky refused to let this idea in his head go. She couldn't understand why it was so important to him. Why was he trying to change her? Before the fire, Lucky loved her painting. Now he didn't seem to care if she painted or not. He rarely asked her about what she was painting. Not that she was. But he didn't know that. Guilt passed through her. She was lying to him. She couldn't seem to stop. It was just one lie after the other. What has happened to us? How did we get here?
She started walking, images of the past running through her mind. They were happy once. Before the fire. Nothing was the way she had imaged it when she'd prayed for Lucky's return.
When she looked up, she realized she had walked to her studio. Jason! She had forgotten to bring him breakfast. He must be starving. She looked at her watch. It was almost six. Unless he went out, he hadn't eaten all day. She needed to get him something. Walking to Kelly's, she ignored the feeling of joy that she would be seeing him.
Kelly's was busy when Elizabeth walked into the restaurant. She went straight to the counter and looked for Penny to order. She called out to her assuming Penny had gone to the back for something. Emily came out instead.
"Emily, what are you doing here?" Emily had on an apron and held a notepad in her hands. "Where's Penny?"
"Hey, Elizabeth." Emily walked behind the counter and up to her. "Penny's sick, so I took over her shift now that I need to support myself."
"What do you mean support yourself?" The last Elizabeth had heard Emily was back home at her parents' house after returning from boarding school.
"I moved out," she said defiantly. "I couldn't stay there. I hadn't been back five minutes, and they were already attacking me about Zander. He's a criminal Emily. He'll hurt you, Emily. We just want you safe. They don't understand that I love him. Zander would never hurt me. He loves me. And right now he needs me more than ever."
Zander would soon be testifying against Sorel in the policeman murder case. Elizabeth didn't really like him much. He was unpredictable. She remembered last summer when Zander had been a drug dealer and they had thought he had killed the policeman. Zander had kidnapped Emily and tried to escape to Canada. Jason had stopped him along with her and Lucky. Zander was dangerous and she didn't want Emily hurt. But she couldn't tell Emily her fears. She got enough criticism of Zander from her parents. Plus she remembered another time in her life when those same words were directed at her about Jason. Everyone had said he was dangerous and would hurt her. She had stood up to practically the whole town. Jason was her friend and she wasn't going to let anyone tell her she couldn't be with him.
"They just care about you. They don't want anything to happen to you. Maybe they have a point. Maybe right now is not the best time to be around him." Elizabeth tried to reason. She knew Emily wouldn't listen. She hadn't when it came to Jason and he was only a friend. Emily was in love with Zander. Anything negative against him would only fall on deaf ears.
"Elizabeth, not you too," she looked betrayed. Out of everyone Emily had thought Elizabeth would be on her side.
"I'm not saying you can't be with him for ever. Just that it might be a good idea for you to keep apart until after the trial. I wouldn't want Sorel to go after you thinking he could get to Zander through you."
"Jason and Sonny would never let that happen," she said with confidence. "I'm more worried about something happening to Zander. He's not Sonny's favourite person right now. And I'm not really sure where Jason is. There's no one looking out for him making sure he's safe."
Elizabeth glanced at her watch. She needed to order and leave. "Sorel wouldn't go after Zander. It would be too risky to get rid of him just before the trial. Everyone will be looking at everything Sorel does. I don't think he will get the chance. Em, I need a number 3 to go okay."
"I know, but I would still feel better knowing that Jason was protecting him. I haven't talked to Jason since I came back from boarding school. He usually calls me every few days. I just hope something hasn't happen to him," Emily replied before leaving to give cook the order.
Elizabeth wanted to tell Emily that Jason was only blocks away in her studio, but she knew Jason wouldn't like it. No one had to know he was in town even Emily.
"Jason's probably doing something important for Sonny and can't call right now," she said reassuringly when Emily returned. "You know what his job is like. When he can call you, he will."
"I know you're right. I'm just worried," she said before leaving to take the orders of the new customers.
Walking to the studio, Elizabeth thought back to what Emily had said. She was worried too about Jason. She hoped whatever he was involved in wasn't too dangerous. She laughed. What was she thinking? Jason's whole life was dangerous. That's what you live with when you're in the mob. She, more than anyone, knew that since she'd found him almost dead in the snow a year and a half ago. Jason lived a dangerous life. One that was kill or be killed. But she knew he never took stupid risks. That wasn't Jason. He always thought things through, assessed the situation and then made the right decision. He didn't let feeling control him and that was what kept him alive.
Sometimes she envied his ability to control his emotions. Most people thought he didn't feel, but she knew he did. He just kept it hidden so he could do his job. She couldn't imagine what it felt like to kill someone. She knew he took it seriously. She didn't think he liked doing it but knew he would and he had when someone threatened Sonny and his family. Jason would protect anyone close to him. She remembered when Sorel had approached her last year. Jason would have killed him if he had touched her. She should've been afraid of Jason but all she'd felt was protected. She knew Jason would die to protect her. She took comfort in that like he was her guardian angel. She smiled at the thought and continued walking to the studio.