Chapter Three

Bernie almost felt bad about going behind his boss's back. Almost. What he found more than made up for any guilt he may have felt. "Mrs. Corinthos I found some information for you."

"Already? Please tell me it's good." Carly pleaded.

"That would depend on your definition." Bernie said calmly.

"Well spill." Carly ordered impatiently.

"It seems Ms. Matthews is not who she claims to be." Bernie warned cautiously.

"She's not Sonny's sister." Carly said knowing that she had been right all along.

"No. I found proof of not only that she's a con artist." Bernie explained.

"Really? That is good. Anything else?" Carly asked, knowing in her gut that there was more than her being a con artist that she was hiding. She could tell every time she spent any amount of time with her that an evil lurked within her. It also made her feel that way because Michael was terrified of her and Morgan cried every time she got within 10 feet of him.

"Well there's the fact she's been working as a prostitute. Both here and in Atlantic City." Bernie admitted.

"This is really great. I knew she was up to something but I had no idea." Carly mused aloud.

"I know it's none of my business but what is this all about?" Bernie questioned cautiously because he knew when Carly found out the rest she was going to hit the ceiling and nobody, not even Jason would be able to calm her down.

"Courtney is trying to break up Jason and Elizabeth." Carly spat furiously. The more she thought about it the madder she got.

"Mrs. Corinthos, there is one more thing." Bernie admitted with extreme trepidation.

"Okay. What is it?" Carly asked her eyes going wide as she listened. "Are you sure?" she sputtered.

"Yes. I am positive." Bernie confirmed.

"We need all the info you can find on her as soon as possible." Carly said when she managed to get her voice to work again.

"Say no more. I'll keep looking." Bernie assured her.

"Thanks Bernie. And could you not tell Sonny just yet?" Carly asked softly.

"Please Elizabeth stop. I can't stand to see you this upset." Jason pleaded as he reached out to take her hand.

"Then just tell me why? Was it because of Zander? I told you that was a mistake. I thought we had moved on from that." Elizabeth said as she pulled her hand away from him.

"We did. I know you don't want to be with Zander." Jason answered with a frown. He still didn't have a clue what the hell was going on and he felt as though with every statement he remained one step behind. Hell, who was he kidding he was so many steps behind that he was terrified that by the time he caught up it would be too late and Elizabeth would be gone from his life forever.

"Then why did you lie? Why Jason? I thought you were the one person I could trust." Elizabeth whimpered as she felt her eyes fill with tears again.

"You can. I... I don't understand. Why don't you believe me?" Jason asked, so lost that he Jason 'the Borg' Morgan was getting ready to throw his hands up in the air and start crying himself.

"Is it because you don't see me that way? Or because you don't think I could please you?" Elizabeth asked, just needing to understand why he hadn't wanted her, hadn't wanted to be with her.

"No. Elizabeth nothing could be further from the truth." he said trying to assure her.

"Then why Jason? Why her? Is it because you think she's prettier than me?" Elizabeth asked as she stood and started to pace. She just couldn't wrap her mind around how Jason could go from telling her that he wanted to be with her to cheating on her with Courtney two minutes later.

"Elizabeth, you're so beautiful. How could you not know that?" Jason answered in dismay. 'My God how can she not know how beautiful she is?' he thought.

"Is it because of my rape?" she asked as she continued to pace.

"How could you even think that?" Jason gasped as he stood and grabbed her shoulders to stop her pacing and to make her look at him.

"Because maybe you think something is broken inside of me. That I could never give you what you need. I can understand that. But all you had to do was tell me. I wouldn't have pushed you. Do you have any idea how much it hurts right now? Knowing you... you never wanted me." she whispered.

"You're not broken. What happened to you was awful. No one, especially not you should have to go through that. But it's made you stronger. You're the strongest person I know." Jason said softly as his hands moved from her shoulders to her face cupping it gently.

"Then please just make me understand. That's all I want." she pleaded as their eyes locked blue on blue.

Jason was at a loss. He had no idea how to make Elizabeth believe him. How could she think such horrible things about herself? Jason lowered his head and brushed his lips against hers. He paused half a heart beat before deepening the kiss. He nipped her bottom lip till she opened her mouth to him. His tongue began to eagerly explore her sweet mouth. Jason poured all his feelings into the kiss hoping he could make her see what she meant to him. For one amazing moment Elizabeth responded. Then he felt her hands on his chest pushing him away. "Why did you do that?" she demanded as she glowered at him from across the room.