CHAPTER ONE

NEW LIFESTYLE

METRO COURT: OWNERS SUIT

Olivia walked besides Jax and Carly as they showed her where her office was – finally. After a few minutes of bating with one another in the lobby – both of her friends actually realized she still had tons of work to do before she would willing call it a day. After all it was her first day on the job.

Jax opened the door and allowed Carly to enter first and than he deeply bowed to allow Olivia to pass him. Olivia sighed and grinned as she followed Carly into the suit, than she paused and let out a low whistle.

"Impressive isn't it?" Jax said as he closed the door behind him.

"I didn't say that." Olivia said feeling very uncomfortable here. She was way out of her league She was out of her league when she accepted Jax's job offer – being operations manager in the five star hotel, but she knew that she could the job. It was in an area that she was familiar with – pipes. She had been on edge – so much that she barely slept the night before. She had taken a long hot shower and taken especial care picking what outfit she was going to wear for the day. It wasn't Kate Howard's style – but it was professional enough to pass muster. At least she hoped it was.

When she stepped up to Jax and Carly – she fully knew that she passed muster. She began to breathe easier and said with confidence that she was ready to began her duties. It hurt her to the core when Jax said that she wasn't working for the hotel – but than her soul came back full forced when Jax said that she did work for the hotel – but than her heat came on when he said that she worked for him solely that she was his assistant and that she was his, those awful words, girl Friday. She knew that she had to set him straight on that one – she tried – but he just wasn't in the mood to understand. But at least she had a job – at the hotel – the promised position of operations manger – she could finally start sending money back home. For Dante, for her aging parents – that way the load won't fall on her brothers any longer. She got to stay in Port Charles – with Connie.

After Carly had left to go talk some sense into Sonny – she had gone straight to work. Her confidence in her new job – new life grew more and more as she learned the entire layout of the Metro Court hotel. She knew that Jax would never regret hiring her – and she knew that once Carly truly realized that she wasn't going after Jax, than Carly would be pleased to have Olivia on staff.

Than Jax had come back and started to play her – well she fully knew that Carly still loved Jax and wanted to fight for their marriage. From what she had seen of Jax – she fully knew that he still loved Carly and wanted their marriage to last. But Jax was too hurt and afraid that Carly would continue to choose Sonny over him – so he began to fight against his soul and heart. But Olivia had grown up in a household of brothers – she had seen it all with them, she fully knew how to handle Jasper Jax. Just like one of her brothers – matter of fact Jax reminded her of her younger brother.

Her confidence of the day fell away as she looked at the owners suit. She was way over her league here. Way over. What the hell had she agreed to do – how could she even think – even imange that she was good enough – worthy enough …..

"Liva," Carly's voice penetrated her racing thoughts.

Olivia blinked seeing the concern in Carly's eyes. "I missed what you were saying," She tried to get her bearings back. But her surroundings were still overwhelming her. She tried to put a brave face on, but she knew she failed. Ok, so she couldn't do the job that was all – that means she can't stay in the hotel any longer, she wasn't going to allow Sonny to foot the bill any longer. Ok, how to get out of here without shaming herself even more.

"Look I forgot to tell you guys this, but I was offered a job at the auto parts store – same position that I held back home. Umm, I didn't want to disappoint you Jax, I mean you did offer me the chance and all." Olivia said quickly, "But, I truly feel like I really belong in the auto parts bracket, nuts and bolts, the smell of grease is more me."

Carly quickly put a hand on Olivia's right upper arm, "Liva stay." She softly said. "I know all of this can be overwhelming … but you truly belong here, you truly do deserve this life style." She tilted her head down trying to meet Olivia's eyes, which had lowered as she was speaking. "Don't sell yourself short."

Olivia swallowed. She looked up with wide eyes, "I'm not selling myself short." Her voice roughed, "I know where I belong is all. And that's in the middle class bracket and in a auto parts store. I belong underneath a car." She tried to back away from Carly, but Carly's hold just tighten. "Please let me go, Mrs. Jax." She said in a formal firm voice.

Carly's chin jetted out, "No."

"You have no right to hold me here against my will." Olivia began to feel the hyperventilation come on. Oh God, she had to get out of there before she completely broke.

"Just take a few deep breathes, Olivia, count to ten as you slowly let it out." Carly said moving even closer to her friend, she wrapped an arm around the other woman's waist, finally freeing her upper arm. "This is a safe place." She whispered in Olivia's ear. "You are meant to be here. Embrace it and simply claim your rightful place in life."

Olivia managed to fight the swelling of emotions that were jumbling around inside her, she breathed slowly for several minutes – allowing the fresh air to help clear the negative and depressingly thoughts out of her. "You can let me go now, Carly, I'm not a flight risk any longer."

"Well that's good to hear." Carly gently squeezed her and moved away.

Jax had silently watched Carly calm a very freaked out Olivia Falconeri down. He fell even more deeply and cemented his ever dying love for her. Now if he could just overcome his fear of being hurt whenever she chose Sonny over him – than perhaps they may have a chance to being happy with one another. He missed his family. He missed his life.

He missed being with Carly, Morgan and Michael in their home. The house that Carly had bought after her and Sonny's marriage ended, the first house that she had ever earned in her own name in her life. Jax could offered several mansions, castles even, but too him there was no home for him than that house. That house where his wife and two step sons lived. The house that truly was a home.

How did it all get so destroyed and so fast. Ahh yes … Sonny of course and Jason. Those two had destroyed his marriage with the woman whom truly had his heart – and his marriage with Country. Well Country's affair with Nikolas did that … but Courtney had always a strong pull with Sonny, her half brother and Jason, her ex husband. It was too much. He even lost Brenda to Sonny – he was tried of losing to Sonny.

When he and Carly had started to bond over taking care of John – he fully knew that he wasn't the father of the baby, that Nikolas was the proud father, but he just couldn't lose the son that he had bonded with when Courtney died – and Nikolas himself was fighting for his life. He just knew that he would be the better daddy for the motherless and defenseless infant – not against Nikolas himself, but Nikolas's evil grandmother. He had to protect Courtney's baby from his father's legendary. So he had taken John home to his apartment, Carly had come along – too offer him single parent advice. She was Courtney's best friend after all – and Carly had promised Courtney that she would love and protect her son for her.

He had confessed to Carly that John wasn't his – and she promised never to tell anyone the truth. She hadn't – it was Robin, Jax didn't blame Robin for telling Nikolas the truth. After giving John over to Nikolas – it was Carly who held him as he wept the loss of his son. They had slowly progressed from there and knew that they couldn't be apart any longer – they had to be together in wedded bless. As a family. The boys had readily accepted him into their lives and family – he wasn't a threat to their father and their love for him. It was so easy.

Until Sonny and Jason stepped in and wanted Carly's help – it snowballed quickly from there. He tried to fight for his love – he tried to get passed the hurt every time – yeah every time – Carly chose them over him – chose Sonny over him. He finally had enough – so he ended the marriage. He willing walked away.

He was still willing walked away – even when Carly begged him too stay – even with her fighting him ever turn in the divorce. If only she would chose him over Sonny – just once – than he would allow his heart to have it's greatest desires – he would pull Carly back into his life, and he would never complain about her choosing Sonny over him for the rest of their lives.

But she would never will.

Carly looked over Olivia's head and met Jax's concerned and compassionate eyes. She knew that he had wanted too step in and comfort their friend – but he knew that it wasn't his place too. He didn't understand what was to be poor – well middle class and suddenly step into richness. He was born rich – he was the second born son to a Duke and Lady after all. The title of Duke was rightfully his – now that Jerry is dead … well presumed dead. But Jax would never accept the title due to his love and loyalty to his brother. Even through Jerry didn't deserve it.

But Carly had been in Olivia's place in life … she had been middle class until she met A.J. And married him. Worming her way into the Quatermaine family. Just for the money and power. No love whatsoever for her husband, but than she met A.J.'s half brother, Jason, and she knew that she had found her rightful place, with Jason. Even though Jason thought of her as his older brother's wife, and taken. It was Jason whom truly welcomed her into the family – they quickly turned into best friends – and than lovers.

Than the accident happened. The accident that A.J had set up to kill Jason, instead just wiping Jason's memory bank away for good. For changing the family loving – doctor to be – Jason Quatermaine into Jason Morgan – the newest hit man for Sonny. It was through Jason that she had met Sonny. She had fallen hard and deep in love with Sonny and knew that she just had to have him. Even when it meant hurting Jason. But Jason eventually forgave her and their friendship had grown stronger because of it.

Her love and passion for Sonny was that of a girl whom had been desperate to find the love and security. Sonny offered it – hugely due to his mob connections. Than their marriage had failed for the final time, when she kept the fact that Kristina was his daughter – that was the nail of the coffin. She knew that no matter how much time have passed, Sonny would never forgive her for that act. So she bought the house for the boys and her. She had started to re-define her life – the opportunity too buy into ownership of Metro Court came and she quickly grasped onto that.

Than Courtney died and Jax was left alone raising their son. She had fallen in love with that motherless child – he reminded her so much of herself. That she had pretty much barged into Jax's apartment and personal space – pretty much took over the motherly role in John's life. Than came the day when Robin had told the truth. The day that Jax had to hand John over to Nikolas, say good bye to his son. She had held him as he broke down in his bed – she had shared the heartbreak with him.

They had quickly realized how much they loved and needed one another – it was natural that they would be walking down the isle as man and wife. They had quickly become a family in the house with the boys. It was perfect. Well almost perfect – her need to protect and try to save Sonny and Jason kept getting in the way. She kept choosing Sonny over him. Jax had enough and flat out told her that he wanted a divorce. Now here she was trying to fight him for the life that they both so deserved.

"Time to show you to your office." Jax said. He turned one his heels and strode towards the door that was opposite the door that they had entered in. He opened the door and waited for Olivia to pass him by.

Olivia took a deep breath and had followed Jax allowing Carly's arm to drop from her body. She paused just as she reached Jax's side. She couldn't take it all in – it was too much. "This isn't for me." She breathed out.

Jax smiled gently and nodded his head. "It's all yours, Olivia, you deserve it. Carly's office is the right of you and mine is to the left." He backed out of the room, "We'll let you get back to your work than." She felt his hand on her back; pushing her forward and than she heard the door shut.

Olivia just took in all the grander – all the glamorous lifestyle that was her new lifestyle. There was no going back now – she just had to prove that she was worthy of this lifestyle. To the world and especially to herself.

END CHAPTER ONE