Thanks for all the great guesses, the majority wanted to see some truly vintage liason so let's see where Jason takes her this time. I know I took my time with this update so it's a longer one and I tried to include references to their history that you will all recognize. Although, I have to admit I am not completely satisfied with how this chapter turned out, but hopefully you won't think it's too bad…
Not my characters, just my little spin on Liason…
Chapter 5 - A New Light
-- Elm Street Docks --
Jason had called earlier that day and asked Elizabeth to meet him on the docks after work. She immediately thought he was back to his secretive ways and wanted to throw her off. She had been sitting on a bench watching the deep blue water for ten long minutes and started wondering if she had better not leave at that moment and let it be over with for good. But Elizabeth was already there so she waited. Every time a stranger walked by, she expected that person to come up to her and coldly inform her that Mr. Morgan was waiting in another secret location. However, five minutes later, her date arrived, alone, sporting a more relaxed and casual outfit.
"Hey, here you are. I was about to leave." Elizabeth swiftly stood up from the bench.
"I'm sorry I'm late, something held me off." It was a someone, but why waste precious time with Elizabeth to discuss his dysfunctional friendship with Carly.
"Right, your time is worth a lot of money I remember. Well I better try to be worth it don't I?"
"You are, or I wouldn't be here." Jason replied with a grin.
And it was true. The demanded man had cancelled many appointments this late afternoon just to be with her, hoping he could finally show Elizabeth what he really was about.
"Jason, I wanted to apologize for the way I barged into your office the other day, I was clearly out of line… it's just that I am under so much stress from work. The fashion world looks all pretty from the outside but I am dealing with real sharks." Elizabeth sighed heavily. "But I know I have no excuse for my behavior."
"Don't worry about it. I'm just glad you accepted to come out with me again. And it was very entertaining too."
His comment made Elizabeth cringe as she relived the embarrassment in her mind all over again.
"By the way did you ever figure out who that secret admirer was?" Jason asked curious about knowing if she elucidated that mystery.
"Oh… are you checking out the competition? Your inner cutthroat side is showing." Elizabeth teasingly uttered.
Jason smiled. "I simply like knowing all the facts I am dealing with."
The brunette shook her head lightly, causing the ponytail she had held her hair in to swing back and forth. "Well actually a very good friend of mine with a big sense of humor sent me these flowers to congratulate me for the show."
"Ah." Jason let out relieved no one else was trying to sway Elizabeth off her feet.
"You never actually told me what you thought about it."
"About what?"
"The fashion show… my collection."
"Umm, it was nice." Jason said trying to remember some of the clothes he had seen on the runaway that day.
"Nice? Nice is like the kiss of death! It usually means I hated it but don't want to hurt your feelings; or I simply don't give a damn!"
"No, I didn't mean it like that." He reassured the brunette. "Well my lawyer Diane always says I have absolutely no fashion sense so I don't think I am the right person to ask anyway."
"But it's ok. You don't have to know anything about fashion to have an opinion." Elizabeth reassured the blond man. "Ok, I see a runway show a little bit like a painting. The runway itself would be the blank canvas and the clothes, the accessories, the music, the lights, the models… all these things are what we play with to create a piece of art."
Jason was listening to her with fascination. He had never considered fashion an art form but the way Elizabeth explained it intrigued him. Maybe it wasn't a mess of textile pieces put together after all.
"I never thought of fashion that way."
"Trust me, you aren't the only one." Elizabeth let out sarcastically. "So why did you ask me to meet you here anyway?"
"Well, I wanted to share with you something I really like doing."
Elizabeth wondered what a man like Jason did as a pastime. Golf? Kill time at the country club? Smoke cigars? Ski in Aspen maybe? Or Fly to the other side of the world for lunch and come back in one day?
"I parked my motorcycle around the corner and thought that maybe you'd like to go on a ride with me."
Elizabeth didn't see that one coming.
"You? On a motorcycle?" She asked amused.
"Does that surprise you?"
"Yes, I mean no… well a little. I can hardly picture you on a motorcycle, I though you had other types passions."
"Like what?"
"Like…" An image of Jason flying in a private jet smoking cigars flashed in her mind. "Never mind." She let Jason perplexed.
"Come on, follow me!"
The pair walked towards the machine. Elizabeth had never been on or even next to motorcycle that large. She was nervous but at the same time excited and couldn't wait to jump right on. She felt restless on the inside but tried to keep her composure.
"This thing is enormous! Is that yours? I mean do you ride it often?" Elizabeth unconsciously bit her lower lip lightly while inspecting the machine.
"Yes, anytime I want to clear my head I jump on my bike and drive really fast for hours."
"Where do you go?"
"Nowhere really. There are different roads that I enjoy taking, because it gives me a great thrill. Riding is just my way of getting away from Port Charles, clearing my mind."
Elizabeth was once more impressed by the man in front of her. She usually thought herself as very good at reading people but she could not have imagined a man like Jason as a biker type. Maybe there was much more to learn about him and she was growing intrigued every minute.
"Well let's go nowhere then." She said before Jason handed her a small size helmet.
"Here, this is for you." The blond man climbed on and asked her to join him. The outfit she wore made it difficult for her to sit on the back of his bike. Having no idea where Jason would take her, the young woman had opted for a lengthy grey cardigan strapped closed by a thick white belt over a short black skirt.
As he saw her struggling with finding the right position Jason asked. "What's wrong?"
"You should have told me to wear pants!" She scolded her date.
Jason smiled at the funny situation. After a few seconds of debating with herself, a not so amused Elizabeth decided to lift up her skirt slightly, revealing to him more of her slender thighs.
The blond man was able to take a quick peek that didn't go unnoticed by his date. He then asked her to hold him tight as they were ready to take off. Elizabeth placed her hands around his well-built figure and made sure to do as he asked and held him very tight.
*****
The wind was blowing hard on Elizabeth's face and she enjoyed the sensation very much; she felt ultra light and Jason was driving so fast that she would have flown away if she hadn't been clutching him that securely. Elizabeth couldn't remember the last time she had that much fun. She screamed, laughed and even got on the verge of tears twice.
After half an hour of riding on the most meandering roads in the outskirt of Port Charles, the blowing wind unexpectedly changed to cold hitting water drops. Elizabeth screamed to Jason that it was raining. The young man nodded and made a swift turn before stopping in front of a small cottage on the side of the road.
He helped her off the bike and asked her to follow him to the covered porch in front of the cabin.
"What's this place?" Elizabeth asked looking around, with her arms crossed in an attempt to shield herself from the cold wind.
"I have no idea." Jason tried to open the door without success.
"We don't know whose house that is; we can't just walk right in."
"It doesn't seem like anyone's here or has been here in a while. I don't think the owners would mind if we just hang around until it stops raining and its safe enough to ride again. Or we could stay outside and get soaked."
She frowned. "Yeah… you're probably right."
Jason tried to force his way in one more time but the door wouldn't open. "Do you have a hairpin or anything close to that?"
Elizabeth took out a simple hairpin that helped maintain her tight ponytail in place. "Would that work?"
"Yeah that's perfect." In a simple maneuver, the man with damp blond hair got the lock to open. The pair quickly got inside running away from the chilly wind.
"How did you learn how to do that? I'm pretty sure they don't teach you that in business school." Elizabeth questioned her date as she footed step in the small cottage.
"Just one of my hidden talents." Jason followed the brunette inside with a light smirk occupying his face.
"This place is so nice! I love the rustic décor. But it looks abandoned."
"Yeah, the owners probably don't come here anymore." The young man said checking out the dusty place and covered furniture. "Would you like me to light a fire while we wait?" Jason said staring at her dripping bare legs.
"Yeah, I'll help you."
"Thanks, but I can handle lighting a fire on my own."
"Oh… well excuse me, I didn't mean to take a blow at your ego. It's just that you strike me as the type who has his employees do all their dirty work."
She wittingly said joining him next to the fireplace. Jason simply gazed at her in response of her indirect attack then tried to prove her wrong by lighting the fire all by himself.
"I had no idea it was supposed to rain today." She broke the silence.
"Me neither. Sorry, I should have checked the weather before." Jason apologized to his date.
"It wouldn't have changed anything because the weatherman predicted sun for the whole week. He should be the one apologizing… and it really seemed like a perfect day ten minutes ago."
Jason smiled while taking a tour of the small room. Elizabeth removed the protective cloth form an old looking sofa then sat down, legs crossed.
"I didn't know you had a bad boy side. Riding motorcycle, breaking into people's houses… I wouldn't have guessed you had that in you. I thought you were the kind who played by the rules."
"There is a lot you don't know about me." He declared in an enigmatic tone.
"Oh really?"
"Really." The blond man said with a defiant look. "So how did you enjoy your first bike ride?"
"I have to say I was amazed by how fast that thing can go!" She said feeling butterflies in her stomach all over again.
"Is that why you screamed so loudly at every turn? I thought my eardrums were going to explode!"
"Well you drive like a maniac!" Elizabeth cried out in defense.
"Sorry if I scared you, but you can only get these kinds of sensations with high speed."
"It was terrifying but I loved it. Especially the turns! I think I have to get my own."
The blond man smiled at her comment. "Well you might need a few lessons before you get to ride alone."
"I know that! Although when I think about it, it's probably not that much fun to ride by yourself."
Jason realized how much he had enjoyed having some company on the back of his bike. Elizabeth's loud screams and laughter had enlivened what usually was a dull soul searching experience.
"I am glad you had fun."
"I did, and all this screaming made me hungry." The young woman said placing a hand on her flat stomach.
"How about we go grab some dinner whenever the rain allows it?"
"I don't know… I am absolutely not in any shape to go to a fancy restaurant; I bet I look like a mess. I'm soaking wet and my hair is all over the place." Elizabeth said trying to mitigate the damages the helmet and the rain had done to her hairdo.
"Well the rain suits you because you still look beautiful to me." Her fair skin turned pinkish as he spoke these words. He went on. "I know a place where no one will care what you look like."
Elizabeth was surprised Jason would know other places than five stars hotel and restaurants. But it really didn't matter where they would go, as long as she would get to ride on his bike again, holding him tight.
The young man noticed a globe on a shelf and traced his finger around it.
Elizabeth stood up and joined Jason to take a better look at look. "Is that a globe? I bet you've been all around the world."
"My work requires me to travel a lot, yes."
Elizabeth made the sphere spin with one hand then closed her eyes and let her index finger fall somewhere on the globe.
"Ever been to… Uzbekistan?"
"Uzbekistan? No never, but I am actually planning on going there on my next vacation." Jason said with a straight face.
Elizabeth looked at him incredulous. "What?"
"It was a joke."
"Oh right, of course!" She chuckled.
Jason pointed at the window. "Hey look! It seems like it stopped raining."
"It was like a huge cloud passed."
"We better go back towards Port Charles before it starts raining again."
-- Jake's --
The pair rode to an area of the city Elizabeth had no idea existed. She followed Jason into what seemed to be a poorly lit game room with a scattered tables and a bar. Few people were playing pool and others drinking in the place that smelled like cold tobacco and beer.
"What's this place?" Elizabeth asked after they sat down at a table in a corner.
"It's called Jake's. Never been before?"
"No."
"They have the best chicken wings in all Port Charles. You have to try it."
"If you say so…. Although I doubt anything good can come out of this place's kitchen! It better be good because I am starving." Elizabeth playfully threatened Jason.
"Beer?"
She nodded, noting that the contrast from their first date was pretty ironic. Jason went to place the orders and came back with two beers in hand.
"I must say I have been really surprised by you today." Elizabeth told her date as Jason placed the bottle in front of her.
"You were? Positively I hope. Sorry the rain had to interrupt our plans."
She flashed a large smile at him that he couldn't help but imitate.
"It's just that last time you were so collected and everything was more than strictly set up from the assistant making the call to the limo; everything. And today you showed me a completely different side of you. I am not sure I know who Jason Morgan is anymore."
Jason shrugged. "Well… He is a combination of the two. Last time you saw the corporate version of me and today you got the real me." Jason straightened in his chair making sure he was facing her. "Elizabeth, I have to apologize if I came off to you a bit rude. I didn't mean to be disrespectful it's just the way I am used to doing this kind of things."
"Well, good thing you realized it wasn't the right way, in my world men do the chasing themselves Mr. Morgan." Elizabeth told him with a taunting smile.
A man named Coleman brought their orders, not without commenting on how lucky Jason was for being in such fine company. And the blond man didn't lie, the food was shockingly tasty, or was it the whole date she was enjoying so much? Elizabeth was really glad she had accepted this second date with Jason after all as she was able to discover a completely different side of him.
After they had finished eating, the brunette had challenged Jason at a game of pool, unaware of the fact that he owned a pool table at home and had years of practice over her couple of attempts in her life span.
"Wait, before we start how about we raise the stakes?" Jason suggested.
Although the game had been her idea, Elizabeth was now apprehensive. "Um… it depends. What kind of stakes?"
He thought for a few seconds. "Ok, the looser takes the other one on a date. How about that?" Jason had other kinds of stakes in mind but didn't want to scare Elizabeth off so he settled for the safest bet.
"So that it guaranties you a date no matter what… no wonder you are that successful in business."
Jason smiled. "Come on!"
Elizabeth started to feel the pressure of Jason's expectations. She didn't think she was ready to see anyone seriously and a third date would mean just that. But like Maxie and Kate had told her, she needed to follow her heart and stop overanalyzing everything.
"Ok. Let's play!"
Jason let her break the game, and even offered her three free hits which infuriated the brunette who complained she didn't need the free passes. All that and she still lost miserably.
"God Jason! You didn't tell me you were that good!"
"You never asked!" He said with a grin then took the cue stick away from her before placing it back on the pool table.
Elizabeth replied with a grimace that Jason thought was adorable. After the pool game and a little banter, he gave the petite woman a ride back to her car that she had left on Elm Street.
-- Elm Street Docks --
"It was great Jason. Thanks for the fun afternoon, although I am still certain you cheated." Elizabeth said once back on the ground.
The blond man chuckled. "I don't cheat Elizabeth; it was a fair and square win."
"Yeah sure…" She threw back unconvinced.
She handed Jason the smaller helmet.
"No keep it, it's yours. Whenever you feel like a good ride let me know."
Her lips formed a tantalizing smile. "You are a very original gift giver did you know that?"
Jason grinned, happily realizing that she was finally seeing him in a new light.
--