"You are so freaking dead." Pinching the lobe of Spinelli's ear, Maxie pulled him to the side of the docks where no one could witness her killing her lying, no good, soon to be ex-boyfriend. "You lied to me!"
"Ow, ow, ow." Having no other choice than to follow, Spinelli sighed in relief when she let go. "I do not know of what my Fair Maximista speaks of."
"Really?" Placing her hands on her hips, Maxie tilted her head to the side. "You told me the reason you ditched me for our lunch date was because you weren't feeling good. Something about bad cheese."
Squirming, Spinelli opened his mouth a few times but when it became clear he couldn't find the words to explain his horrible excuse, he snapped it shut again. "I know I have wronged you and it breaks my heart. But there are things in my life I can't even tell you."
"Oh give it up." Slapping him in the gut, she shook her head at him. "You were with Jason. Not some top secret mob type mission."
"Shhh" Placing his hand firm at her mouth, while looking around wildly to see who may have heard her, Spinelli looked at her pleadingly. "You put us at peril when you speak of such things. And yes I was with The Master this afternoon, something is afoot and the Jackal's skills are in much need."
Pulling at his hand, Maxie narrowed her eyes. "I know this whole dating thing is new to you, so listen carefully. If you ever stand me up again I will do things to you that will make you cry like a little girl."
Gulping silently, Spinelli nodded. "I never meant to wound you."
"And if you ever lie to me again and I have to hear from my roommate that you're off getting coffee, I will take you're stupid computer and kill it." Eyeing him, making sure she'd made her point, Maxie relaxed when her words hit home. "So this is what we're going to do. You're taking me out for dinner to make up for today."
"Yes of course." Not wanting to disappoint, Spinelli nodded quickly. "As long as it's an early dinner. I wasn't jesting when I said my skills are in need. I can't share more, but please know I would do anything to avenge my particularly horrible behavior."
His puppy dog eyes, and awkward behavior were her soft spot. Not that she'd ever admit it to anyone. Not like she ever could. If her Uncle ever found out she went against him and was dating someone close to Jason Morgan she'd been sent off to a convent.
So instead they'd been meeting in secret for the last year. Mostly they hung out at Jason's penthouse, where Spin was currently crashing. Most of the time they had the place to themselves. But recently Jason's out of the blue woman, Sam, had been staying there. And to say the other woman was a bitch would be the biggest understatement of the year. She didn't know what Jason saw in the woman. And to be honest she couldn't understand how Jason knocked her up.
So with their safe haven contaminated they'd had to start meeting in different places. Most of the time it was fun. Trying to keep under the radar. But she knew the time was coming when she was going to have to stand up to Mac. She really did love Spin, and they couldn't keep their relationship a secret forever.
Unable to stop herself, Maxie sent him a smile. "You're such a geek."
Trying to blend in as much as possible, Elizabeth eyed her surroundings, plotting out every possible escape route. She may be doing something extremely impulsive and without a doubt reckless, but she liked to believe she wasn't insanely stupid.
With very little time to devise a plan she was left with only a handful of possibilities. Each one was dumb, juvenile and ridden with enough holes the continent of Asia could've slipped through without much difficulty.
She'd wasted enough time, sitting safely inside her dorm room, she had given up any hope of creating something that could closely resembled a mastermind plan. For the first time in like forever, she felt inadequate, incapable, useless.
Dressing carefully, making sure to stay away from anything flamboyant, Elizabeth went for dull and drab. After years in the Webber household she was a pro at knowing what to wear, how to behave, to become virtually invisible. Praying she hadn't lost her touch, she looked down at her outfit with a grimace.
Everything she wore, besides her panties, bra, socks and boots, where at least a size too big. Baggy was the name of the game. Nothing clung to her curves, her pants were held up by a belt, and the jacket keeping the cold at bay was borrowed from the guy down the hall. Brown, black and poop colored mustard yellow did nothing for her complexion, but promised no one would look twice.
To be overly cautious, she tied her hair at the nape of her neck before pulling a knit cap on.
Lady Luck seemed to be smiling down at her. The docks where the Corinthos-Morgan warehouse stood were filled with nooks and crannies. Several alleyways leading to Main Street, where she'd parked her Jeep, were close by, giving Elizabeth another way to get out as quick as possible.
What she wasn't anticipating was the activity she found. Forklifts were practically flying back and forth. Teams of workers milled around in an organized chaos. Over the hustle and bustle loud shouts could be heard, some giving directions, others just talking and joking around as they went about their day.
All she needed to do was find someone who looked like they held some sort of managerial position. Someone she could trust the envelope stuffed in her back pocket with. As she scanned each possibility she couldn't help but notice a few men, wearing extremely expensive tailored suits intermingled with the hard working dock workers.
The closer she looked the more alarmed she got. She wasn't dumb, she'd watched enough television to know those men weren't there to unload crates of coffee beans. They were exactly what she'd picture a guard, working for the mob would look.
"Shit." Taking a step back, Elizabeth felt her heart skip a beat. There was no way she could just prance over and be in and out. No, she needed to find someone on the outskirts. Away from the chaos.
Nibbling on her lower lip, another bad habit she just couldn't shake, Elizabeth pushed down the growing panic inside her chest. When finally her eyes landed on her best possibility.
An older man, with graying hair and matching mustache broke away from a group of workers, heading off to the side while pulling a pack of cigarettes from the inside his jacket pocket. He walked with a slight limp and Elizabeth knew this was it, her best chance.
Hurrying over, her pulse jumping the closer she got, Elizabeth reached to the envelope in her pocket.
"Excuse me?" The words came out raspy and Elizabeth winced.
The man looked up, his weathered face looked weary as she approached. "Yeah?"
"I hate to bother you on your break, but I was wondering if you could do me a huge favor?" Feeling foolish, and wishing for this to be over like some bad nightmare, Elizabeth studied the man's bland expression and felt her stomach drop. He didn't seem as cooperative as she had envisioned on this half-assed plan.
Taking a long drag, his eyes moving from the tip of her head to the ugly boots she'd worn. "Depends."
"I have something for Jason Morgan -."
This seemed to pique his interest as a smirk twisted at his lips. "Do you?"
"Will you give it to him for me?" Not entirely certain what the man found so funny, she watched silently as he chuckled.
"Let me guess, you got a letter you want me to pass along?"
Elizabeth frowned, instantly disliking his reaction and smug sounding words. "Something like that."
"I don't get you girls." Taking another drag, he gave her another once over and shook his head. "Sure I give him your little love letter."
"Excuse me, what?" Stunned, Elizabeth stepped back as though he'd struck her.
"That's what you want me to pass on to him, right?" Finishing off the cigarette he tossed it on to the blacktop and ground it beneath his boot. "Most of the girls are a little better looking, but whatever."
"Ah, ouch." Remembering what Maxie had said about Jason Morgan having worshippers around town she suddenly felt foolish. His insult stung, even though her outfit was doing it's job. "And it's nothing like that."
"Right." The man had the gall to actually wink at her, before putting his hand out. "I'll pass along your non-love note."
Irritated and wanting nothing more than to rip into the jerk in front of her, Elizabeth knew she was pressing her luck.
"You got me. It's a love note. If you could just pass it along for me I'd be grateful." Sarcasm dripped from her tongue as she shoved the envelope at the man.
"What got your panties in a bunch?" Apparently she'd pegged the man in front of her all wrong. She'd wrongly assumed him to be a nice, good mannered, easy target. Instead she picked the biggest prick in the yard.
"Listen you crusty old creep." No longer able to hold her tongue, Elizabeth felt the insides of her eyes burn. "I'm not some brainless stalker who gets off on the town's badass. All I needed your nasty mouthed, poor mannered butt to do was take this here," Waving the envelope in front of his face, Elizabeth took a step closer. "and just give it to him."
"I got a better idea, why don't you?" With a lift of his furry eyebrow the older man whistled, causing Elizabeth to jump. "Hey Morgan!"
"What are you doing?" Swiftly looking over her shoulder, Elizabeth nearly swallowed her tongue when her eyes landed on the broad shoulders and annoyed looking Jason Morgan.
"Thought you had something to give him." Stalking away from her, Elizabeth was pretty sure she heard the words bitch and pain in the ass come out of his mouth. But she didn't have time to steam over his poor social skills, because the one person she really didn't want to see was coming toward her.
"Please tell me this is some kind of joke." Elizabeth muttered under her breath, as Jason Morgan advanced on her.
"This is private property." Stopping just feet from her, Elizabeth tried not to take a step back, but seeing she also didn't want to get a cramp in her neck she was forced to.
"Right." Nodding, her palms now sweating, Elizabeth sucked in a deep breath. "Here."
Shoving the envelope out, she gave him a expectant look when he didn't immediately take it from her. Frustrated he just stood still, his massive arms crossed over his chest, Elizabeth couldn't help but wonder what it would take to get the incriminating object out of her possession.
"It's not poisoned." Shaking, Elizabeth almost growled when his eyes narrowed suspiciously.
Elizabeth could feel his close scrutiny and wished like hell he'd stop studying her like some kind of nasty bug. "You're that girl from Kelly's."
His eyes flickered back to the letter in her hand and his stance relaxed and almost looked uncomfortable. Elizabeth could almost see the pity in his eyes, and her back snapped up straight. Almost able to read his mind, she couldn't help but feel insulted.
"I don't know what you think this is, but it isn't some sappy-stalkerish love note." Her anger ignited, Elizabeth knew there would be no power on earth strong enough to shut her up now. "To be honest, you're not my type."
The pity was wiped from his eyes, and was replaced by astonishment. Apparently no one talked to him that way. Too bad for him, Elizabeth fumed. "And I know I'm not your type."
Jason's brow rose. "You don't say."
"I've seen the pictures in the papers." Elizabeth countered. "I just don't fall into the brainless slut type."
"You finished yet?" Stunned beyond belief, Jason didn't know if he wanted to laugh or kick her butt off the property.
"I didn't want to come down here. Now I almost wish I hadn't." Once again she lifted the envelope and when it became clear he wasn't going to take it, Elizabeth patience ran out. "Whatever." Tossing it on the ground at his feet, she spun on her heel and hurried off.
Jason watched in wonder as the girl slipped into the crowed and all but vanished.