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Chapter 33

"Yo." Emily came in a flopped down on the couch next to Jason. "Elizabeth is downstairs talking to a customer."

"Summer just came to get her." Jason turned his head and opened his eyes to look at his sister. "Is the customer upset?"

"Nope. Lots of grinning was taking place." Emily mirrored his stance of stretching out her legs and resting her head on the back of the overstuffed chair. "How come you are here?"

"Manual labor. We stopped by the night of the party and I noticed that the boxes were stacked up, some higher than Elizabeth. I'm here to get them down, also I can move furniture and such while I'm here." Jason explained to his sister. "I know she can do it on her own, but this way I have an excuse to sit here and look at her." He ended with a grin.

"I think my teeth hurt after that statement." Emily just closed her eye as she relaxed. "If it gets out that you are saying stuff like that no one will be afraid of you."

"Like you and John aren't sickeningly sweet when you are around each other. I once had to sit and watch the two of you take twenty minutes to say goodbye. I'll miss you more." Jason said pitching his voice higher. "No, I'll miss you more." He said going higher still. "I was ready to throw up." He said teasing her.

"Don't be jealous. Look at it as relationship goals." Emily was trying not to laugh.

"I'm not jealous." Jason grinned wide. "I don't need to be, because now I have someone to be sickeningly sweet with too. We are also way cuter than the two of you."

"As if." She just rolled her eyes. She loved that Jason had found a place for his heart, and that it was with her best friend was just gravy. "I'm happy for you guys. I love you, I love her, so having you love each other is pretty freaking awesome." Emily said getting a little serious. Having both her brothers happy and in relationships with women she liked was a good thing. Because clearly it was all about her. Emily laughed a little at that thought.

"So did you come here to tell Elizabeth your good news?" Jason wanted to know. He closed his eyes again and got back in his relaxed position.

"What makes you think I have good news to share?" Emily wanted to know. He was correct, she did have good news but she had been doing her best to keep it under wraps. Stealing Liz's thunder was a bitchy move, which is why Em hadn't said anything. As far as she was concerned the next couple of weeks should belong to her friend. However, when the news got out wasn't up to her. It was going to be announced soon and Em wanted her family to get the information from her first.

"I'm smart like that." Jason said grinning. His sister was an open a book most of the time. She could keep a confidence if someone needed her to, but when it came to her life she wore her emotions on her sleeves. It hadn't been hard to guess that something great was going on in her life. He didn't see a new ring so he didn't think it was an engagement announcement. Being patient for him wasn't that hard but AJ, who had also clued in, was struggling. Which made Jason laugh. "Spill."

"I'm waiting for Liz to come up." Emily said giving him a look. "You could have pretended to be surprised." She sniffed in mock annoyance. "Does Liz know too?"

"I'm a lousy actor." Jason said with a wide grin. "She knows something is up, and wouldn't have minded you sharing at the party. In fact she told me I should tell you that you should share since everyone was there. Since you hadn't yet spoken up I said we should wait. I'm a great big brother, remember that when my birthday rolls around."

"Her night." Emily said as an explanation for the silence. "My news didn't need to be shared right then. I'm only sharing now because a press release is about to happen." She looked over at him. "Also pandering for gifts is beneath you." She said giving him attitude, because that is what little sisters did. His gift would of course be awesome because he was awesome. She just had to figure out what it would be.

"Did you tell Grandmother?" Jason was expecting to hear a yes.

"Of course I did." Emily answered like it was no brainer. "We tell her everything. It's like a family rule. If she ever decides to write a book a lot of tea is gonna get spilled." Emily wanted to be just like her grandmother when she finally grew up. "I told everyone else at brunch earlier, since you guys weren't there I'm now here. Although I wasn't expecting to find you."

"I can leave if you need to tell Elizabeth alone." Jason could do that for his sister. He got that the two women had their own relationship that didn't involve him.

"Nope. Telling you together is even better, so thank you for not making me track you down." Emily let him know. "How busy was today?" She asked about the shop.

"No clue. We've been up here all morning. Elizabeth has been trying not to think about downstairs. With her manager down there we've been concentrating on the workshop. She just needed to be here." Jason got that. When he first started the coffee business he had been at the warehouse every day for the first six months.

"We promised not to come in during the first week." Emily told her brother why none of the gang had been in to buy anything. "Liz wanted to get a handle on what sales might look like without us inflating the numbers."

"She told me." Jason shared with his sister. "She also told me that she understood good or bad this first week might not represent what will happen down the road." All businesses went through highs and lows. Hers would be no exception. "Does your news have anything to do with John?" Jason guessed he was a little curious after all.

"No. We aren't making an announcement." Emily told her brother. "Marriage doesn't interest me at the moment. Him either. Things are great between us. We don't see the need to change the status quo." She said shrugging. "AJ and Carly had a huge wedding, and mom will just have to be satisfied with that." Even if Em did get married, it would be a small ceremony. Jason was more than likely going to elope because Liz said that was how she wanted to do things. "Thanks for asking though." Emily never had to doubt if her big brothers were looking out for her. "Hi!" She sat up as Liz came upstairs. "The store looks great. I roamed around before coming up. I want friend points for not sneaking in a purchase."

"Thanks." Liz flopped down into the arm chair leaving the couch for the siblings.

"Was everything okay?" Jason wanted to know.

"Yup." Liz nodded grinning. "Mrs. Andrews is a tourist from out of town. Her granddaughter has been having trouble finding a dress for a summer social. Carly recommended the boutique. Summer said that Mrs. Andrews came in and found the dress right away. Then she dropped a lot of money deciding a shopping spree was called for. I stopped her before she said how much." Liz would review the numbers, and start her flow chart, after closing.

"Apparently she dropped enough to earn herself a meet and greet as well." Emily was thinking Summer hadn't exaggerated when she said a lot.

"Mrs. Andrews also took a business card, so I'm hoping for repeat business via the website." Liz knew that was really where success came from. Having regulars was everything in the fashion world. "What brings you by?"

"I have news to share." Emily started there. "Which is great because it covers the fact that I wanted to see inside the boutique."

"You are finally going to share? Good. I'm tired of waiting." Liz cracked a grin. "I was worried you were going to wait until the entire first week was over."

"I had planned to wait longer than that, but as I told Jason a press release is taking place. Tomorrow in fact." Emily let them know.

"Well?" Jason looked at his sister.

"I got a job. I know I'm not officially done with school until this summer session is over." The summer schedule was shorter which meant the class pace was accelerated. Since she only needed two classes worth of credits Emily didn't mind. Normally over the summer she worked with her grandmother at her charitable foundation. "However when the offer came in I snatched it up."

"Not with Grandmother?" Jason was guessing.

"No. Skye already runs the relish company, which is the only place Grandmother would be hiring. Tracy trying to push Skye out was enough." After their aunt got bounced from ELQ she decided she was going to run Pickle-Lila. Too bad she didn't check with her mother first. Lila was having none of that. "I'm going to work for Sonny."

"As what?" Jason hadn't heard a peep of this from his partner.

"Elton is getting promoted to CEO of Deception. Which is long overdue. He earned the position simply by not killing Ava. I'm going to be the company's new COO." Emily said with some pride. It was a position she was ready for. Between her degree and work experience this was a role she could fill. Plus the opportunity to learn from Elton was a good one. The man was at the top of his game, Grandfather respected him highly which not everyone could say.

"Congratulations." Liz got up and sat on Emily's other side to give her friend a big hug. "Sonny has made a very smart choice."

"Elton was the one who made the decision." Emily wasn't sure she would have said yes to Sonny. She would have worried he was doing this for Jason. "I was asked not to say anything after my interview until the decision was official. I got offered the job the same day you guys set up the store."

"Congrats. I'm proud of you." Jason smiled over at her. He was surrounded by smart and strong women.

"Thanks." Emily blinked back tears. "My first official job, will be the new Deception ad campaign to launch the new Opulence line. The ads that will feature Audrey March designs. I'm going to put it together and Elton will have final approval." Emily was super excited that she got to work with Liz right out the gate.

"So my lunch date in two weeks is with you now?" Liz was looking forward to working with Em.

"It is. So leave the diva attitude in your office." Emily said joking. She had worked hard in school to earn top grades. Now it was paying off. Grandfather had offered to buy her a company, but she declined. She wasn't ready for that just yet, and Emily understood that she still had things to learn. Elton was going to be a great mentor.

"Please, we both know I'm fabulous. You are lucky to be working with me." Liz said giving attitude. "My people and I had to squeeze you in. I was like 'Deception, who is that' when the paperwork came across my desk." She loved messing with Em.

"One store and her ego is swelling." Emily said playing along.

Liz just smiled wider. "Don't be jealous."

"On that note, I'm going to leave." Emily rolled her eyes and pretended to be annoyed. "I'll see you guys at dinner this week."

"We don't have plans to come to the mansion." Jason told his sister. They hadn't been over for a few weeks.

"I think that was Em's way of dropping a hint." Liz picked up on what her boyfriend missed.

The brunette just smiled before kissing her brother's cheek. "Stay out of trouble. You'll get arrested just so you don't have to go to dinner. Congrats again." Emily told Liz giving her a hug. "I'm going to try steel my resolve so I don't buy anything on my way out. You've got a pink cashmere sweater that is going to test me though." She spotted it before coming up.

"It will be here next week." Liz knew which one her friend was talking about. She would go down and put it aside to make sure that statement was true.

"If it's not I'm sure I'll find something else to buy." Emily was already planning to get her Nurses' Ball and ELQ Christmas party gowns here. Now that she was joining Deception she would need something for that holiday party as well. "Bye."

"I'll walk you down." Jason said sitting up.

"Don't bother, Ritchie is downstairs." Emily wasn't enjoying have a guard, but he wasn't going anywhere so she was dealing. "Bye." She called out before disappearing from sight.

"She's going to rock that position." Liz was so happy for her friend.

"That she will." Jason stole a kiss since his girl was so close.

"Okay, enough slacking." She said looking at the boxes before pointing. "Can you get that box down for me please?" Before he left she would ask him to get down all the higher boxes for her so that tomorrow she could finish up on her own. Max could help her, but that wasn't why he would be here.

"When do I get paid?" Jason wanted to know.

"You will get your kisses when the day is over." Liz said getting to her feet. "Not before." She said walking over to the box she had been emptying out when Summer came up.

"You are hard to work for." Jason mock complained as he also got up. He was looking forward to going home and getting those kisses.


"Elizabeth." Summer was back upstairs. Her boss's boyfriend was on the couch checking his phone. Living in Port Charles she knew who Jason Morgan was, but hadn't ever seen him in person before. The pictures in the paper didn't do him justice. The guy on the second floor was also very nice to look at, Summer hadn't gotten his name though.

Jason looked over. He had heard footsteps on the stairs so he looked over. Rory was on the second floor and he wouldn't let just anyone up to the third floor, so Jason was guessing it was a staff member. When Summer appeared he just nodded.

"Hi." Liz looked at the clock. The shop would be closing shortly so she was thinking this was a check in. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes. There is someone here to see you. She asked for you by name." This was only Summer's second time upstairs and she noted that her boss had already gotten through a fair number of boxes.

"Really? Did you get a name?" Liz wasn't expecting anyone. She also made a mental note to set up her phone system before leaving. It wasn't fair to make her staff walk all the way up to deliver messages. That wasn't part of their job.

"Ms. Kate Howard." Summer held out the business card she was given.

Liz froze for a moment before taking the card with a shaking hand. "Kate Howard is downstairs?" Looking down she took in her jeans, t-shirt, and sneakers. She was not dressed to receive Kate Howard.

"Yes, should I tell her you aren't available?" Summer wanted to know.

"No." Liz said pulling it together. "Send her up. Thank you." They would talk on the second floor which was in better shape.

"Okay." Summer said before going back to the store.

"Kate Howard is here, and I look like a mess." Liz said brushing off her jeans. She couldn't imagine the state her hair was in. It was piled on her head in a messy bun that had been coming undone all day. Reaching up she pulled out the pins and tried to make the curls look presentable.

"You look beautiful." Jason got that his girl was on the verge of panic.

"I've been unpacking boxes all day. There is no way that is true." Liz put some antibacterial gel on her hands to clean them. "I don't have time to change though. I don't even have time to put on lip gloss."

"Why is she here?" Jason walked over and hugged Elizabeth hoping to calm her some.

"I have no idea." Liz shook her head. "I don't think this is about my entry. Normally you get a call and then a letter." She bit her lower lip. "Do you think this means I didn't win, but she still wanted to see my clothes."

"I don't know what this means, but talking to her will give you some answers." Jason responded while rubbing Elizabeth's back. He knew Kate Howard was one of his girlfriend's idols in the fashion world. He just hoped she was nice.

"Good point." Liz said taking a deep breath. She stepped back and looked over to see a well-dressed older woman standing in the entry way to the studio. "Ms. Howard."

"Hello Elizabeth. May I call you Elizabeth?" Kate asked taking in the messy space. "I was told to come up."

"Uh." Liz said gathering her thoughts. "Elizabeth, or Liz, is fine. I was planning for us to talk one level down. It's not as cluttered."

"That's fine, but so here if it's easier." Kate said with a smile. "I know this is your opening weekend, so I figured you were juggling a lot of different balls. Also to be honest this isn't that cluttered. You should see my office the night before we put an issue to bed. It's like a paper bomb went off. The creative process is not always neat. I don't trust people who have spotless offices."

"Have a seat." Liz pointed to the armchair. Since Ms. Howard was up here they may as well stay. "We may get interrupted as the store is about to close." The staff knew what to do, but Summer might want to check in. "Can I get you a beverage?" Liz had a small refrigerator with drinks.

"Just an introduction." Kate looked at the handsome blonde.

"This is my boyfriend Jason Morgan." Liz smiled over at him. "Jason, this is Ms. Kate Howard."

"Kate is fine." The older woman accepted the handshake that was extended. "You are probably wondering why I'm here."

"Yes. I am." Liz wiped her damp palms on her pants.

"I wanted to talk to you. I'm pushy enough to make sure I get what I want." Kate said leaning on the arm of the chair which brought her closer to Liz. "I've been watching you for a while now. You, Elizabeth, are very talented. Very talented." She repeated slower. "The website has allowed me to track your evolution as a designer, and when you submitted sketches I got another look at where you are going. As a brand, and as an artist. I was very impressed." Kate didn't believe in beating around the bush.

"That you for the nomination for Young Designer of the Year." Liz had also sent a thank you card, but she didn't know if Kate read her own mail.

"You're welcome, but I don't deserve thanks. It was earned." Kate said smiling. "That's why I've dropped in on you without an invitation. That and I wanted to see the store." She wanted to see the live versions of the sketches.

"Oh." Liz thinking that she had lost and Kate was being kind enough to break the news in person. Honestly to have the owner and editor in chief of Crimson in her workroom was just as good as an award.

Kate just smiled. "I very selfishly wanted to come and tell you in person, that you won. In both categories." The magazine owner had backed Elizabeth from the moment the submission came in. No one else was going to win these awards and when the voting started Kate made sure her other Fashion Council members knew how she felt. Rarely did they agree on anything as a group. That meeting room held a lot of egos, but the majority of them already agreed with Kate. Liz was something special, and they saw that.

"I'm sorry, could you repeat that." Liz could not have heard the other woman correctly. Looking over at Jason she saw her guy was smiling wide.

"Congratulations." Kate said taking in the moment that was going to change everything for Liz. From her purse she removed the official paperwork. "I'm staying at the Metro Court Hotel, and I'd like to meet for lunch tomorrow, at one, to discuss your interview with Crimson. I'll also give you the name of your contact for the fashion week show you'll be putting together. Now, I'll give you some time to process your win, and I want to go make a purchase in the store before it closes." Kate said with a chuckle. "I'm not walking out of here without that blue silk top. Not gonna happen." The editor got to her feet. "Elizabeth I'll see you tomorrow, Jason it was a pleasure to meet you." With that she left.

"I won. You heard her say that right?" Liz wanted to know.

"I did hear her say that." Jason was letting his girl have a moment to process what she had been told.

Liz brought stunned eyes to Jason's face. "I'm going to be in Crimson magazine. My clothes are going to be in Crimson Magazine."

It didn't surprise him that she would mention the article and not the money. He remembered the conversation they had while in Puerto Rico where she said the exposure was worth more than the cash. "You'll be on the cover too don't forget that, and we get to go to New York." Not to sightsee, but so that she could work.

"You're coming with me?" Liz should have known that would be the case.

"Of course. I wouldn't miss this for anything. I'm willing to be bet that everyone is going to fly down when you have your show. This is huge and our family will want to celebrate with us." Jason knew that not having her parents there was going to hurt on some level. Having everyone else there would ease that pain. "When you get the dates let me know. I'll make sure everyone else is told. Want another party?"

"No." Liz shook her head still trying to process this. "I'm partied out." There would be at the least a dinner in her honor when they got closer to fashion week. "I'd like to set up the tent. That will be the perfect celebration. It doesn't need to be fancy like before. I just want to mark this occasion with you."

"Then that's what we'll do." Jason promised her. He was still going to arrange a nice meal and have it sent over. "Start shutting things down up here so we can leave when your staff does."

"Yeah." Liz said looking around at the space. "Work isn't going to happen now. I'll be lucky if I even sleep tonight." Her eyes landed on the table. "I never read the letter."

Jason grabbed it and handed it over.

Liz's smile got wider with each word she read. The name of who to contact to claim both prizes was on the letter and she would do that tomorrow, to get the ball rolling. After her lunch with Kate Howard. Putting the letter in her purse Liz walked over to the box she had been removing items from. The quiet with Jason tonight was just what was needed after the stellar highs of today. Time alone with him always the perfect way to celebrate anything.


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