Chapter 279 – Quick Chat with John
John immediately took his stuff up to his room. He came back down and left his laptop in the office. He also took a moment to collect his thoughts. He knew that they were going to meet Nathan's friends for supper, but he knew that they needed to deal with a few other things before that. He had also sent a team to the RV park to check it out. He didn't want to put anyone at risk, especially Nathan's friends who so graciously came up to help. He didn't think it was fair that they might have to give up their privacy.
John came downstairs and finished greeting people. He looked at Margaret and could see that she was more stressed then when he had last been there, just a few days prior.
"Everything ready for the show?" John asked.
"Mostly." Gran said. "What is left can't be done until tomorrow. The kids have worked hard this week."
"Glad to hear." John said. "Frank, how is the eye?"
"Doing okay, Sir." Frank said. "Still a little blurry, but almost back to where it was. He warned me that it would take a couple of weeks for the bruise to heal and to expect the blurriness for at least the full two weeks."
"Good to hear." John said. "Margaret, do you happen to know where your granddaughter is?"
Gran looked at Abigail and Trish.
"If she is smart." Trish said. "She is packing her stuff downstairs. I told her she better keep her mouth shut and leave before she gets kicked out."
"Margaret." John said. "Will you please go get her?"
Gran nodded and headed downstairs. While they waited for Margaret and Emily to come back, John asked about how the week had gone and how they felt about the show. He could feel the excitement as the talked about the show and getting to know Nathan's friends that had come to help. He was glad that the group seemed to fit in well with his grandson and his friends. John had been worried about it, but he shouldn't have been. He had checked them out and even thought they might have minor record, nothing was bad and John knew Nathan to be a good judge of character. Devin for that matter as well. If they were fine with the group, John felt he shouldn't hold anything against them because of their past. The people he trusted to keep his family safe, trusted the group. He was actually looking forward to getting to know some of them.
It was only a few minutes and Margaret was back with a very unhappy Emily.
"Emily." Gran said. "This is JP's other grandfather, John Thornton, Sr."
"Emily." John said. "Let's go have a private conversation in the library."
"I ain't going anywhere." Emily said, crossing her arms. "This is my grandparents' place and you can't kick me out. Also, if you have something to say to me, then just say it."
"You are right, I can't kick you out." John said. "But I can have you arrested. So choose your words carefully. I am not in the mood to put up with your attitude. I know you are here because you got fired and you need money from your grandparents. I also know that you have been offered a job with a tabloid magazine if you can deliver an exclusive and racy photo of JP and Elizabeth."
John stopped and opened his briefcase that he had set on the chair. He pulled out some papers.
"Since you want to do this in front of everyone." John said. "Here."
John held out the papers to Emily, but she refused to take them. Margaret ended up taking them.
"It doesn't matter if you refuse to take them or not." John said. "What they say will be enforced. That is a cease and desist order. If you speak to any member of the media or send any unauthorized photo to anyone, you will be facing an invasion of privacy suit and I will win. If you can't abide by the rules set out here, you won't be around here."
"You can't kick me out." Emily huffed.
"But I can." Jack said.
"No, you can't." Emily said, stepping forward and challenging Jack.
"Yes, he can." Gran said. "He can not only kick you out, but he can ban you from any Coal Creek property and that would include your parents property and Uncle Conrad's property."
Emily whipped around and looked at her grandmother.
"How?" Emily demanded.
"Because I own Coal Creek." Jack said. "I have it in writing that I can ban anyone I see fit for any reason. This was already mentioned. You just didn't listen."
"No you don't." Emily said. "Gran and Grandpa own Coal Creek and then it will go to my dad and us kids. Rose, Michael and I will get Coal Creek when Mom and Dad pass."
"Yes, he does." Gran said. "As of July first, JP is the sole owner of Coal Creek – all property and business assets. We live here and will continue to do so, but JP owns the house and property. He will be the one paying the taxes and stuff. The only money that your grandfather and I have access to is our personal savings and we won't be giving you anything. We chose to let JP and John have Coal Creek because they had a wonderful plan to see this place into the future."
"What about the rest of us?" Emily huffed.
"What about it?" Gran said. "Your brother is the only one that had shown any interest in the place other than JP in the last few years. Your grandfather and I had conversations with both Chris and Conrad about the future of this place. We also spoke to Tim and Melissa because they are both in school for equine related degrees. They agreed that they were not in a place to take over Coal Creek and that had never been in their plans. So when we were presented with a plan by John and JP, it made sense to let them take it over."
"You can't be serious." Emily said. "That is not fair. He is going to get plenty of money from his parents, so why does he need Coal Creek? It should belong to a Sims, like it has for generations according to Grandpa."
"The decision had been made." Gran said. "It is not up for discussion. I will not tolerate you to be disrespectful. I kicked my own daughter out for being just that, so don't think I will take it from you."
"Give me your phone?" Jack said, holding out his hand.
"No." Emily said.
Jack looked at his grandmother.
"If you want to stay in this house." Gran said. "Unlock your phone and hand it over to JP right now."
Emily huffed, but handed her phone over. Father Mark and John looked over Jack's shoulder as he went through her phone. Jack immediately went to the camera roll and saw there were several pictures of Elizabeth sleeping and suggestive one of him taken under the table. He sent them all to his phone, deleted them from the camera roll and then emptied the trash. He then checked her sent messages and saw that she had been messaging one of the reporters that had been banned from Coal Creek. He took out his phone and took screen shots of Emily's conversations and then deleted the conversations and blocked the number. He then gave her the phone back.
"Cross me again." Jack said. "And I will throw you in jail. I have made it perfectly clear that my private life is not media fodder. Cross me at your own peril."
Jack then nodded to his grandfather and walked to the library to calm down.
"That is not fair." Emily said.
"He was more than fair." Father Mark said. "The last reporter to challenge him was arrested and permanently banned from any Coal Creek property. I warned you. You also know that Jack has never allowed personal information or personal questions when he did anything with the media. Why do you think that would change now?"
"Gran." Elizabeth said. "You said as long as I am comfortable, if she took pictures of me without my knowledge, I don't feel comfortable with her staying in my room."
"It isn't your room." Emily said. "It is my sister's room."
"She is staying there with my permission." Gran said. "It is her room until I say otherwise. I told her that she could stay there this summer and I am not going back on my word to her because you are acting like a spoiled brat."
"What am I supposed to do?" Emily whined.
"John." Gran said. "Is Devin coming this weekend?"
"He is already here." John said. "He is staying out at the RV park with other members of the group that Nathan knows."
"Elizabeth?" Gran said. "Would you be okay with her staying upstairs and not in your room?"
"I don't know." Elizabeth said. "I need to talk to Jack about it. I have concerns about her compromising everyone's safety."
Frank and Nathan came over.
"I told you I would keep you safe." Nathan said. "And I will keep my promise."
"What are you concerned about?" Frank asked.
"Her taking pictures of Jack and I." Elizabeth said. "We should be able to relax in the house and not worry about someone taking photos of us. We also shouldn't have to stop kissing or holding hands just because she wants to cash in on Jack's name."
"I hear you." John said. "But if she takes photos of you and sends them to anyone, she will be facing a lawsuit and so will anyone whoever publishes the photos. Peter and Andrew have put it out there that any unauthorized photos of my family will be met with swift and severe consequences. I know that will deter most of the publications, but the sleazy ones will still try to push it."
"I would still feel better speaking to Jack before making a decision." Elizabeth said. "I know how I feel, but I want to see how he is feeling."
"Feeling about what?" Jack asked, walking back.
"Emily moving to the guest room upstairs." Gran said. "Elizabeth expressed concern about her being in her room."
"I would not be comfortable with her in there if she took photos of me." Elizabeth said.
"She can stay if she agrees to certain conditions." Jack said. "But I agree, she doesn't need to be in Elizabeth's room. Devin said he is out at the RV park so he won't need the room. He then said he got a hotel room for the remainder of the time."
"What are these conditions?" Emily demanded.
Gran and John looked at Jack, because they knew he had obviously thought about them.
"You leave Elizabeth and me alone." Jack said. "There will be no photos and if I find you have taken any, and I mean any photos of us, I will kick you out and ban you from all properties I have control over. You will be respectful and help, like everyone else."
"And if I don't agree." Emily challenged.
"Then you will be gone and not allowed back until you can show respect." Gran said.
"Fine." Emily huffed. "You aren't being fair."
"I am being more than fair." Jack said. "You are getting more chances than most."
"I will help you take your stuff upstairs." Father Mark said.
"Thank you." Gran said.
Father Mark and Emily went downstairs.
"Jack, are you sure about this?" Nathan asked.
"For now." Jack said. "But I will not tolerate any more attitude and if she wants to try and take pictures, then she is going to find out what happens to people who cross me. I have told everyone what is going to happen and I don't care if they are family. She came back to cash in on my name and relationship. I will not allow it."
"JP is right." John said. "He shouldn't have to deal with this in a safe space. Devin had suggested that we kick her out to make a point, but left the decision up to JP."
"I know." Jack said. "I stepped away to text him and calm down for a moment because if I wouldn't have walked away, I would have slapped her."
"Better to walk away." John said. "JP, do you have a moment to talk about a few things?"
"Sure." Jack said. "Where?"
"Up to you." John said. "It is about making arrangements for August."
"Here is fine." Jack said.
Jack took a seat at the table and so did John. Gran, Trish and Abigail went back to the kitchen.
"I am going to go relax for a bit." Frank said.
"I will go with you." Nathan said.
"Jack, do you want me to stay?" Elizabeth asked.
"Please." Jack said.
Elizabeth took a seat next to Jack and both of them looked at John while the others went about what they were doing.
"So what is up?" Jack asked.
"I have a few ideas for where you can stay after the wedding." John said. "Andrew and Chris have been looking at security at different places and they have made their recommendations. I have to agree with them. They have five places that they suggest."
"I have already booked the Polaris Suite for Friday and Saturday at The Adelphi Hotel." Jack said. "I have arranged for them to hold the room for us until we get there. I explained that I was getting married and it would be later when we got there, but someone will be there to check us in by four and drop off the luggage. I booked Saturday, so we didn't have to worry about anything the next day and we can take off anytime we want."
"Okay." John said. "That was one of the places on their list. So that is fine. Have you made the other arrangements for your honeymoon."
"Yes, I have." Jack said. "Since I want to surprise Elizabeth, I will email you the itinerary. I have reserved the jet for us leaving some time Saturday the eighteenth with us returning to Saratoga on Saturday the twenty-fifth. We need to be back in the city for orientation on Monday. I want to be back in the city by four o'clock on Sunday."
"Doug, Nathan and I can take your stuff back if you want to stay one more night and fly back to the city on Sunday?" Lee said.
"Elizabeth?" Jack said. "Would you be okay packing what you don't need for the honeymoon and letting the guys take everything back?"
"I don't mind either way." Elizabeth said. "If you have already made plans, we don't have to change them. We can stay here and go back on Sunday."
"When would you be arriving here on the twenty-fifth?" John said.
"We would be back about six that evening." Jack said.
"Can you change the flight plan and fly to Teterboro on Saturday." John said. "I can have Devin arrange for a car to get you and take you to the apartment. It might be easier and you can have all day Sunday to get things set up to start school."
"That would work." Jack said. "Elizabeth, would that be alright?"
"That sounds like a plan." Elizabeth said. "I don't know how much I will have to send back with the guys, but I can arrange to make sure whatever is going back can be ready. What about our luggage for the honeymoon."
"You need to have everything packed and ready before you leave for the church." Jack said. "While we are at the church, I will have someone pick everything up and take it to the hotel and check us in. They will then get the key cards to me after the ceremony at the church. I will be doing the same thing. Granted, there is more of my stuff to take back this year then in the past."
"Who were you thinking of getting to do that?" John asked.
"I was going to ask Peter or Andrew if they would do it before they came to the church?" Jack said.
"I will have Andrew do it." John said. "I take it Elizabeth is going to be getting ready here. Where are you going to be?"
"I know that we are supposed to not see each other before the wedding." Jack said. "But after talking to Devin and taking security into account, we aren't sure what to do."
"What to do about what?" Father Mark asked, taking a seat.
"The day of the wedding." Jack said. "I know that I am not supposed to see Elizabeth, but given the security concerns, I don't know what we should do. I had planned on Elizabeth getting ready here and taking one of the town cars to the church."
"You also need to remember that it will still be race season." John said.
"I know." Jack said. "But it wouldn't be unusual for me not to be there. I just want to be able to relax and not worry about things that day."
"Either way." Father Mark said. "I think you guys should come and get ready at my house. That will give the ladies a chance to get ready and there won't be a chance that you will see Elizabeth in her dress. We can hang out here or at my place until lunch time that day. The wedding is at five, right?"
"I thought we were aiming for more like four to four thirty." Elizabeth said. "Then be back here by six for the reception. I thought we were sitting down to eat at six thirty."
"Then I think it is reasonable that JP and the guys leave mid morning." John said. "I will make arrangements for you all to have lunch somewhere and then you can go get ready at Father Mark's."
"That would work." Jack said.
"Then we will work on that." John said. "But if you want to go relax before we leave this evening you are free."
Jack, Elizabeth, Father Mark and Lee all got up and headed downstairs. They wanted to just relax before they left for supper and it was John's way of saying he had work to do.