Chapter 2
Maxie winced as once again she told her sister that she had had no idea who she had been dating let alone who the father of her child was...
They had been at the ranch for almost a month when she got the call from her boss. "Kate, I will be on the flight tomorrow morning."
Going to see Georgie, she suggested her sister stay in Texas for another week or so then join her in Port Charles. Hopefully by then the blond will have figured something out.
Georgie looked around then said. "I am actually going to finishing sorting through things, and then return at the end of July, mid August at the latest. I still can't believe we decided to sell this place." Sadly she walked through the adobe style ranch house than had sheltered generations of her family.
That was one of the things that Maxie was going to fix; she knew how much this place meant to Georgie, that was why in spite of knowing what it was worth and really wishing she had the money she had always been reluctant to sell it. Now, thanks to her stupidity, Georgie was going to lose the only material item she had ever loved.
In Port Charles, Anthony hung up the phone and thought about the best way do deal with this... then with a Cheshire grin decided to start with the youngest of the Spencers. Lulu was the weakest link and she was also someone who had done damage to his future (Even if she didn't know it) daughter-in-law.
"Mr. Zachara, when you asked me to come over, you didn't explain why." said Elton as he sat down across from the man the press said was insane.
"Have you finished remodeling that house for Elizabeth Corinthos?" he asked then saw the man close up and rolling his eyes said. "I don't give a crap about her; I just need to know if you are free to take on a new assignment."
Frostily, the man stood and said. "I will never work for your family. I can't and still retain my honor."
"Sit down!" snarled Anthony then was slightly impressed when the very flamboyant designer ignored him and still went towards the door. "I know that Scorpio wasn't screwing my wife, and I know that it wasn't the youngest that almost ruined my company."
That got his attention. Elton turned and looked at the man then said. "Then why did you let your son think it was true?"
"Oh, don't be misled, Johnny is under a crap load of guilt regarding your Miss Jones and he still believes it to be true. It's going to get uglier before it gets better. My son is an idiot that way." said the old man. "I need you to help me with a few things and I will pay you very well."
"Why me?" asked the suspicious designer.
Taking out his list, Anthony said "Well I figure you know the pretty young thing rather well and will more than likely offer to decorate her nursery. This way you can save the time of doing so twice. My assistant has the plans for the house I bought for them once Miss Jones gets her memories back and my Johnny gets his head out of his... well you know."
Seeing the man's doubt, Anthony gave him another set of eye rolls then said. "My idiot son was in the middle of buying this place when the so-called truth came out."
Elton wasn't interested in helping the crazed loon but when he left the young man at the desk was practically shaking as he insisted on the designer taking the box of items. He had followed him to the elevator then just before the door closed tossed them to the man.
Returning he looked at the man who had threatened to fire him if the designer hadn't taken the box and said. "Mr. Hubert left with the box."
"Good, good." said Anthony rubbing his hands together. "Now I want you to locate this dockworker."
"But sir- I have never been down to the docks in my life." protested the whiner. Debating on whether or not he really needed an assistant who spoke six languages besides English if he was an idiot, Anthony counted to ten then snapped. "I didn't say for you to go down to the docks, I said I wanted you to locate him. Make some calls... use your brain for once!"
As the jittery young man left, Anthony ranted about young people these days while taking a look at the rest of the files his new PI had found on the Spencers. "Perfect."
Johnny was in a filthy mood, he had almost located Jerry Jacks when he got the news that the man had left the country. Looking around the snug cafe, he saw the computers and sat down. Using his credit card, he checked his e-mails.
Nothing too important, his father was once again trying to order him home, Jasper Jacks sent him some information on the family's mines out near Ayers Rock and there were two from Morgan's company.
Opening those, he saw that Spinelli had sent him an attachment but the local computer refused to let him access the files. Deciding it wasn't worth the effort, he left to go and find a bar to get mind numbingly drunk. Instead, he ended up in a jail cell, arrested for disorderly conduct.
Anthony took the message from Diane Miller, then calling her back said. "On second thought, let him stew for a few days."
In Port Charles four days later, Johnny stormed into his father's office and said. "What the hell was that all about?"
Looking at his son, Anthony said. "I had something in play and didn't want you in the middle of it."
"I lost the trail, Jerry could be anyplace by now." he snapped before leaving. "Oh, by the way... I hired some man I meet while in jail. Ethan Lovett, con artist, he is going to be my new assistant."
Anthony just grinned as his son left. Perfect, calling Holly Sutton he said. 'I see you took my threat seriously, good. Now go away."
A few days Johnny went to the community center to meet with Morgan and sneered at the place. It was another rich kid hang out, he hadn't liked them when he was a kid and he didn't like them now. He had heard rumors that this place was supposed to be for street kids, yeah right. Nothing but future trust fund kids all over the place.
Seeing Emily Quartermaine, he asked about her brother. "Oh, you just missed him. How are you Johnny?"
"Fine." he replied just as an annoying blond rushed up and demanded Emily do something.
"About what, Lulu?" she asked the pregnant girl.
"Logan Hayes went to your grandfather and is claiming that this is his baby. You know me; you know I wouldn't cheat on Dillon. I mean, I was a virgin the first time we slept together." she cried.
Johnny was still in a pissed off mood about another girl claiming to be a virgin and snapped. "Well, which one of the men you used to meet up at the Overlook and make out with was Dillon, I recall two blonds. One with wild hair and the other looked like he spent too much time down by the docks."
"Mind your own business." she snapped at the dark haired man, her eyes widening as she saw John. "Who do you think you are?"
"I think I am the man who is very grateful that you like blonds." he sneered.
"Lulu." sighed Emily. "Go home; wait until the test results come back. And stop acting like this. As for Dillon, of course he is suspicious; you lied to him all the time. You know that after having Tracy as a mother, he loathes conflict."
"I guess you are right. I just can't see why he has to act like this, letting Edward take charge though."
"You should be grateful for his avoidance personality." she snapped. "You only managed to get him into bed because he was too much of a coward to tell Edward to stay out of his personal life."
When the blond had flounced out, Emily who didn't know of Johnny's relationship with Georgie and had forgotten about the ugly rumors about Mac and his mother ranted. "That little bitch, she played my cousin for all he was worth, ruined his relationship with the classiest girl that Dillon was ever going to get, all because she wanted to attach herself to the Quartermaine name, then she slept with some dockworker. I have had it with those damn Spencers."
"That moron Lucky keeps turning up trying to track down my best friend; he had the balls to tell me he was going to make her his mistress, yeah right. Last year, at my ball, he was screwing around with Maxie Jones; I saw them on the parapet. Talking about how to get Georgie to help them with something without actually telling her what it was about."
Johnny froze and found the only response he could come up with was an unintelligent. "Huh?"
Flushing, Emily said. "Nothing, look I have to. I am sorry to be complaining to you about my problems, see you later."
Johnny got a sick feeling but ignored it. He had to, he couldn't have been wrong. Everything said he was in the right and that Georgie had methodically and criminally almost taken down his company.
Georgie felt bittersweet as she stood on the porch of her family's ancestral home, looking at the boxes, she rubbed her tummy that was now growing and said to her little one. "Momma knows, but maybe it is time to let go of the past. Besides, Momma doesn't even remember part of it." she said with a soft chuckle.
Maxie had called; her sister was meeting her at the train station since flying worried Georgie with her pregnancy. The doctor said it was fine, but she still was nervous about it. Taking one more last look, Georgie walked over to the waiting jeep and thanks the Holts for everything.
At the station, Charity hugged the young woman and said. "The boxes should be arriving at the end of the week, I am... I am going miss you. Your mother would be so proud of you honey."
Georgie tightened the arms around the middle-aged woman then hugged Jimmie Lee before getting on the train. Once in her private room, Georgie took out the 'What to Expect When Your Expecting' and read it yet again. She really wished she could remember what it was that she had forgotten, she was certain if she had one clue, one idea; the rest of her memories would come back.
Thinking back on the strange call she had had from Edward Quartermaine, she reached into her knapsack and tried to figure out why the most ruthless and diabolical schemer she knew had sent her paperwork giving her half ownership of GH.
She was certain that the old buzzard was up to something.
In Port Charles, Johnny was dealing with Nik Cassadine who was selling all of his business so he could go home to Greece with his wife. While the official version was to spend time together most of Port Charles had read the articles by Trevor Lansing and knew that his wife was sleeping with other men.
Walking through the park, he saw Jason Morgan holding a little boy and couldn't help smirking as he approached the man he was hoping would want to do a deal in regard to the docks, between them Morgan and Zachara owned most of the available property.
"Morgan, what the hell happened here?" snapped John Zachara. "My dad sent me to meet you; Cassadine just sold us his docks as well as his shares in the hospital."
Looking at the man younger man, he said "Edward, who knows, he might have been trying to kill me for real this time."
"It's ironic, your biological grandfather is considered a pillar of the community and called eccentric and more than likely is insane and my dad who was set up is vilified and reviled plays insane."
"The Quartermaines have always been about appearances." snarled Jason while holding Jake who seemed fascinated with his tie.
"Who is the little guy? Anything you want to tell me?" said the younger man with a sideways look and a grin.
Jason perked up and said "This is my son, Jacob Morgan. I uh, got married a couple of weeks ago."
Looking up, John saw he wasn't kidding and chuckled. "Dad sent me to Australia to track down Jack's brother a couple months ago, any thing else I miss?"
With a grin, Jason couldn't help asking in spite of being worried about Emily and the pain in his hand "That trip to down under wouldn't have anything to do with a certain woman dumping spaghetti on your head at the meeting we had?"
With an unrepentant grin, he replied. "No, but it does have to do with the bottle of burgundy she added to it. Dad was pissed, there are only four of those left in the whole world, when he read the article in the paper, I knew I was up the creek without a paddle, since I didn't bother asking for one of them."
Thinking on it, Jason said "I have to go, listen, if your dad decides to unload those docks, let me know, I had a plan for the Canneries at one point."
Johnny went to head home, however he ran into Alexis Davis who was gritting her teeth as he explained that no, he didn't need a new lawyer for the Cassadine properties his family had just purchased.
As she left, Trevor slithered over and said. "Are you ready?"
Looking at the man who truly loved his job as town crier, Johnny said. "What is going on?"
Hearing about the Jacks, Quartermaine and Cassadine marriages, Johnny was relieved that he hadn't fallen into that sort of mess when Georgie had been using him. "So you are saying the police are looking for Carly?" he said.
Making a call, he let them know he had seen Carly down by the old burnt down strip club on his drive earlier before asking Trevor for the rest.
"Ric left Alexis." Johnny gave a soft chuckle at that one, now at least he got why she was even more of shrew. "Claire, the ADA is pregnant, it's his. That Olivia woman moved to South America with some rich arms dealer named Alcazar."
Johnny shrugged nothing that he was interested in. "The only other good gossip was that Edward instead of paying off Georgie Jones with cash bribed her with his shares of General Hospital."
Tensing, Johnny looked at the man. "Quartermaine was paying her off for what?"
"No one will tell me." said the reporter; not admitting that he had his own suspicions that were confirmed when he found out the younger girl had gotten a prescription for prenatal vitamins before leaving town two months ago.
Leaving, Johnny headed over to GH, as of Nine AM tomorrow, he was going to be partial owner of that medical establishment and he wanted to know what the woman who had lied to him and then seduced him had on Edward, he wasn't going to fall prey to her lies twice.
Instead there was chaos as he found out Edward Quartermaine had died, Michael, AJ's son had been shot by his mother and that Emily had been injured in the melee at the park. Leaving as he ignored AJ blaming it all on Jason, he tried to figure out how to locate the woman who had betrayed him.
Not finding the curly haired brunette, he stopped over at the house he had once sworn never to visit and knocked on the door. When his former assistant, 'Millie' aka Maxie Jones answered the door, he snorted then said "I want to see your sister, NOW!"
"Go away; my sister doesn't owe you anything. And you well you got what you deserved, you should rot in hell for the way you treated my sister." She fumed at the man in front of her.
Maxie had talked to one of the waiters at the Metrocourt and had gotten the whole story from him about the argument between Georgie and this louse.
"Not until you tell me what your sister got in trade from Edward Quartermaine for half of General Hospital." He said glaring at her.
Maxie gave him a cold grin then said. "A baby, now get the hell out of here."
"What?" he asked. "What are you talking about? I can't stand that sneaky bastard but everyone knows that his one redeeming quality is his love for his wife, Lila."
"I didn't say he was the father." She said bored then closed the door in his face. Putting in her ear buds, she went back upstairs and ignored his demands for her to explain. Opening her bedroom window, Maxie leaned out and said. "You are so smart, figure it out. Just know one thing, learning the truth, doesn't change a thing. Georgie doesn't need or want you around."
Jason didn't want to be involved but he knew he had to talk to Johnny about what Epiphany Johnson wanted. He knew that she was keeping something from him and Jason had the sinking feeling that whatever it was was why the Zachara's company had almost failed earlier that year.
Seeing Johnny approaching he asked him to sit down then said "Epiphany Johnson wants me to ask you to take a blood test. That you would know what it is about."
With a bitter shake of his head, Johnny said. "They seem to think I personally killed Mac Scorpio. That has to be it, I have done nothing of the sort but I can't get them to face it."
Jason thought about it then asked. "Have you tried sitting down with them, talking this all out. I told you earlier this year that I thought you were missing something, that there was more to the story."
Stopping Johnny from talking, he thought back to the conversation he had had with Epiphany and relayed it word for word.
Wondering about it, Jason hung up and looked at Epiphany. "What is going on and I want the truth."
Leading him to the small chapel, she said "The girls think he killed their father for a supposed affair with his mother. But it wasn't possible. There had to be another reason Maria was found there. Maxie had a plan, but was unable to execute it, her little sister, stepped in to keep Maxie out of jail and now let's just say... I want to put an end to this."
"Why do you care?" he asked staring at the woman.
"When Mac's wife died, I was hired as a part-time nanny. I raised those girls, I know what they are capable of and Maxie isn't my worry. Her sister is."
Johnny gave Jason a bitter smirk and said. "Well to me that is proof that she was the one, after all your man Spinelli found that blue print she wrote for her sister. A step by step instruction on how to destroy an international company written by a manipulative little brat."
That was the part that bothered Jason, Spinelli had been quiet lately, and refusing to tell him what was going on. Even the night he had married Elizabeth, the younger man hadn't been his usual ebullient self.
Returning home, he was telling Elizabeth what was going on and she shocked him with her response. "Sorry, but it reads like a bad romance novel."
"What?" he asked then when she explained, he said "No, John called her a manipulative brat earlier, that doesn't sound like a man in love."
"Jason, if you read between the lines... yes it does." she said then went through the events, one at a time. "My guess is that something went wrong there, because if she did this, like it says she did, it should have ruined the company, no matter how good he is at his job."
Maxie was swearing silently as she waited for the old man to join her. She had been putting this off, procrastinating like usual and now it was biting her in the rear. She had to do this, she had to face what she had done BEFORE they ruined everything Georgie cared about.
"Ms. Jones, Mr. Zachara is waiting for you in the solarium." Announced the butler.
Maxie smoothed down the non-existent wrinkles in her skirt and followed him to the glass room. "Sir, I am glad you agreed to meet me."
Looking at the blond who had done so much to hurt his company, Anthony said. "Well I am waiting, what did you want?"
Swallowing air as she tried to get it out, Maxie's eyes were bouncing as they looked around the room, at everything in there except at the man she knew she needed to face. Closing them, she took a deep breath in preparation when he gave a cackle.
"Let me guess, you are working up the nerve to apologize for what you did. Your apology means nothing to me now, a few months ago, when you let your younger sister take the blame, I would have accepted it. Now, well now; it means nothing."
Maxie looked at the man then said. "I know and at some point I am intending to fix my mistakes with Georgie, but please, just listen to me. That property in Texas, it means nothing to you. But to my sister, to Georgie… she has…"
Coolly watching the blond break down, he said. "And yet it wasn't until she lost her
memory that you faced that. Rumor is that Spencers are looking to expand to Texas, what, you think you can betray me, take the deal to them… I won't allow it."
Maxie was shaking when he called for the butler and then informed him to escort the young woman out. Once she was gone, he gave a sigh then a soft chuckle. Maybe, just maybe Maxie Jones had learned her lesson about telling the truth, but just in case, he would keep the deed to that property for his future grandchild.
Georgie got off the train, feeling a little shaky. Looking around, she didn't see Maxie and was getting a bit annoyed when she reached out and grabbed the now weaving post in front of her.
Johnny had also gotten off the train from New York; he had gone there to track down Dante Falconari to make an offer on the Corinthos estate. He found the land connected to another estate and he would love to turn that into a small park.
The young man had turned down his offer explaining that Alexis Davis controlled part of the estate, seems like Ric Lansing's oldest daughter Kristina was really Sonny's. He saw the pregnant blond in front of him, her head down, her hand holding on tightly to the light post.
"Miss, is everything okay?" he asked a bit worried when she seemed to teeter even as she tried to turn. His eyes widened as he saw the woman he had stopped to help was Georgie, a pregnant Georgie at that. Maxie had been telling the truth about that at least.
He could see the small pouch of a stomach and couldn't take his eyes off of it, that changed when he heard a strange sound and looking up, jumped out of the way as she threw up over the side of the tracks. "Hell, you need a doctor don't you?"
"Do I know you?" she asked before passing out. Johnny didn't know what she was trying to pull, however he took out his phone and went to call for an ambulance then seeing the porter approaching said instead. "Take our luggage to 142 Indian Lake Drive."
Lifting her, he frowned at how light she was even as he carried her to his waiting car. Snapping at the driver to take him to GH, he couldn't help himself as he brushed the curls back from her very pale face.
Entering the hospital, he snapped at the doctor to get someone down there immediately. "There is something wrong with her, she is pregnant."
Kelly arrived in the ER and saw Georgie Jones unconscious and with John Zachara standing over her glaring at the prone woman. "You know, if she wakes up and sees you glaring at her like that, she is going to more than likely pass out again."
Without looking at the small Korean doctor he snapped. "Find out what the hell is wrong with her, now!"
Pushing him out of the way, Epiphany entered the room and returned his glare with one of her own. "What the hell do you think is wrong with her, she is pregnant, has no memory of how she got that way and add to that the stress of whatever you put her through."
Kelly looked up from where she was treating her patient and ordered them both out of the room. "Please send in another nurse, Epiphany and take Mr. Zachara out of here as well."
Leaving, Johnny paced outside then snapped at the woman. "So which of the Quartermaines knocked her up?"
Snorting, Epiphany sneered. "That would be you. That baby shares your DNA, not any member of that screwed up family."
"Bull." he snapped. "I know about her stock options from Edward. We used condoms, wait, is she trying to pin this on me, is that what all that crap about the blood test was about? She can't be that stupid to think that I would trust any results from here."
Epiphany walked back into the other room and asked Kelly, "Is Georgie's consent paper still in affect?"
"Yes, why?" asked Kelly.
"Go ahead, draw the blood sample, then hand it over to Mr. Zachara out there, would you?" she requested before heading back out. Passing the Italian, she said. "You want the truth, Dr. Lee is going to give you a blood sample, but if I can guess what brand of condoms you use, you agree to give me a sample to test here."
"Oh, go ahead." he retorted with a smirk when she snapped. "Enduros and pick up a newspaper from last month or better yet get the same moron who researched this so called proof that Georgie was the one who ruined your company and have him do it. Not even that idiot can miss that Tracy Quartermaine skimped on material and put out defective condoms."
John waited until Kelly Lee came out and told Epiphany that Georgie was just sick from eating on the train, then asked. "How far along is she?"
When the doctor refused to release that kind of information, Johnny slipped back into the room. Georgie woke up and looked blankly at him, he asked. "How far along are you?"
"Fifteen weeks." she said then hesitating asked. "Do I know you? I keep thinking I should but then it goes away."
"Do you really expect me to believe that you don't know who I am?" he snapped. "Seriously, do you after what happened the last time you pulled this?"
"I pretended to not know you before? Are you sure? It sounds more like something Maxie would do? Do you know who the father of my baby is? Please, I have to know?" she pleaded with him. Johnny couldn't help feeling something but at the same time, his mind just kept going back to that day at the Metrocourt and what she had said to him.
"Please?" she begged.
Johnny had an idea, this nurse seemed to think he was the father, he was sure he wasn't, after all he had used condoms. Georgie was up to something and he would let her try and play him.
That way if it was his kid, he could get custody, not that there was any doubt he could, she was the woman who tried to destroy him. With a cold grin he looked at her and said. "Yes, I do. I am the father. We were together in April then you decided to help my business rival destroy my company."
Georgie looked at him and said. "Look, if you don't want to tell me the truth, fine, but stop with the lies. I would never do that."
"Well this is what I know. I am going to be going to find a priest, you are going to sign a pre-nup, marry me and then you can leave after this baby is born."
With a trembling voice, she said. "There is no way I will raise my child with someone like you."
"It won't be with me, I will be keeping this little bundle of joy." he said with irony, "You on the other hand, will just walk away. Otherwise I will throw you, your sister and your lover/partner in crime in jail."
Blinking, she said. "Wait, lover? So you aren't the father?"
"No, I am apparently a possiblity but so would your other lover, that would be Lucky Spencer." he snapped only for Georgie in spite of the discussion going on to laugh. "What you think that is funny?"
"I wouldn't have sex with Lucky Spencer if he was the last man of earth and he was the only hope for the human race. He is a sleaze ball. Try another one and this time, chose someone I don't know was sleeping with a hooker who looked like his mother and calling her Mommy."
Taken back by that one, Johnny couldn't help asking. "His mother?"
"Yup, saw the file on my dad's computer." With a sense of wonder, Georgie looked at him and said. "Keep talking to me, please. That is the first memory I had since I woke up past my dad's death."
"No, we are wasting time and play this smart. Don't you dare tell anyone or I will have your rear tossed in jail and get custody of 'our' child while you rot in whatever hellhole they put you in." he retorted as he went to the door. "And feed yourself and take care of my heir."
Georgie was shaking as she called Kelly Lee and asked if she could get a sandwich or something then asked. "Who was that man who was in here."
"John Zachara, I thought you knew from when he got Mac fired?" she asked confused as she left not seeing her patient turn white as she realized that the very ruthless man wasn't kidding. He had destroyed her dad and was now after her.
Keeping to his word, Johnny returned with a lawyer, a priest and his assistant. "Father, can we get started?"
Georgie could barely believe this was happening to her as she frantically tried to recall some memories to tell her that this wasn't true, that she was not about to have a child with this man. That she wasn't being forced to get married to said man. When the time came, it was with a hallow voice that she said. "I do."
When the father said. "You may now kiss the bride." Johnny screwed up his lips then gave Georgie a quick peck, stopping her from backing away then said to his assistant. "Take care of those items I told you about and then find Morgan's computer geek, Spinelli."
Waiting until there was mass confusion in the hallway, Johnny saw that Georgie's chart said she was doing better then told her. "Get dressed."
"What?" she asked only for him to wrap the blanket around her and put her in the wheelchair that Ethan had discreetly placed in the hallway. Then wheeled them out of the hospital.
He had been expecting an argument from the beauty who had been a brunette as part of her plan to trap him and was now a blond, looking down as they went out the side door he saw she was fast asleep.
Making a call, he said. "Thank you, now get those tests run and then meet me at my house."
Ethan took the sample to the test facility and was told to tell Mr. Zachara that it went without saying they would rush the results. "Tomorrow morning."
Nodding the Aussie went to his bosses house then was told to take papers to Luke Spencer. "Remember, don't trust the old bugger. Make sure you check the signature then let Lucky hear you talking about the shipment of black diamonds I am arranging to come from Australia"
Maxie and Epiphany searched the whole hospital and couldn't find Georgie. Calling home they got no answer and they knew she wasn't at Bobbie's. The red head was in the middle of the biggest fight of her life with her husband over his sleeping with her daughter.
Georgie woke up almost eight hours later, staring at the ceiling then at Johnny who was asleep next to her. An image popped in her head of the two of them, in a bed. He was telling her something then he'd pulled her into his arms and they had fallen asleep. Sick to realize he was telling the truth about them having sex, she looked down at the wedding ring she was wearing and cried herself to sleep.
TBC