thanks for the reviews. I will not be able to update for a couple of days now. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 2

It had been two weeks since Liz and Lucky's engagement party and a lot had happened in Lulu's life. She had quit one job and run headlong into another. "As of today, I am officially ELQ's president," Lulu said out loud. She hoped no one heard her. Theresa, her new secretary was just outside her office and she had a feeling Theresa knew everything that went on at ELQ. They had only met once but Theresa was definitely on top of everything and was going to be a huge asset to ELQ's new president. Tracy had spent hours with Lulu at the Q mansion going over ELQ's books and their many subsidiaries and all they did. Although Lulu was nervous and running ELQ was going to be a challenge, it was something Lulu felt confident she could do. Her first conference call with all of ELQ's subsidiary managers was scheduled for 2:00 and it was only 7:00 in the morning. She had spent most of last night preparing for it and now wondered what she was going to do with her morning.

She called Theresa in. "Theresa could you please let me know the procedure for letters?" Tracy had still used the old fashioned method of calling Theresa in and dictating.

"Ms. Spencer we can do it however you want."

"I would prefer a dictaphone and my own computer. I used a program called Dragonspeak at Crimson and dictated them to the computer and let my secretary put the finishing touches on them. Would you be alright with that?"

"That would be fine, if that's what you would like Ms. Spencer. Would you like me to go ahead and order the computer and program from the technology department?"

"Please, I'd like it right away. Tell them I would like it set up and complete by the day after tomorrow at the latest."

Theresa turned around to leave and said, "Yes ma'am."

"Oh, and Theresa please call me Lulu. Ms. Spencer seems so formal and I'm sure we're going to be putting in some long hours together and I'd rather not have to worry about formality." Theresa seemed surprised but continued out of the office without replying. Lulu knew Tracy would not be a fan of this suggestion but Lulu was use to a more informal office and Tracy needed to get with the times. The next thing she was going to initiate were dress down Fridays. It seemed this office was still of the opinion women couldn't even wear pants. Any woman she'd seen was in a skirt. Tracy had told Lulu she was in charge and she would be willing to back any decision Lulu made. This would be the true test.

Lulu sat down at her desk and picked up the phone to call Maxie. "Are you speaking to me yet?" she asked when Maxie picked up her direct line at Crimson.

"I'm still thinking about it. You know I could have really used you here. What am I going to do when I have this baby?"

"Kate can fill in for you. Her and Coleman have been on a long enough extended honeymoon."

Maxie made a half laugh and told Lulu they should do lunch.

"Sure, how bout Kelly's at Noon? I have a conference call at 2:00 but that should get me back in plenty of time. I want to talk about planning your baby shower anyway." Lulu was almost as excited as Maxie was about having this baby. It was going to be fun seeing Maxie out of her comfort zone once she was responsible for a little person.

"That sounds great, see you then," replied Maxie and set down the phone.

Lulu put the phone back on its cradle and decided to review the European numbers before she had to meet Maxie at Kelly's.

Dante had put in another all nighter and was still at his desk when Lucky came in to the office. His hair was ruffled from running his hands through it trying to concentrate on this new case. He knew he just couldn't see the trees for the forest and decided to ask Lucky to review the file to see if he could find something Dante was missing. This murder scene had been haunting him because it dealt with a family who lost their father to what seemed like a motiveless murder.

"Lucky, could you review the Reynolds file for me? There has got to be something I'm missing and I'm so beat I can't even concentrate on it any more."

"Sure, give me a second. Mac wanted to see me as soon as I came in. As soon as I'm done I'll take a look at it."

Dante dropped the file back down on his desk and leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. As soon as he could he was going to Kelly's to grab something to eat since he hadn't eaten since dinner last night and go home and get some z's.

By the time Mac had talked to Lucky and Lucky had a chance to review the file and go over it with him it was 11:30. Dante had hoped to have eaten and been in bed two hours ago. He grabbed his jacket and asked Lucky if he wanted to go to Kelly's with him.

"Sure, let me get my coat."

It was 12:15 and Lulu had been waiting for Maxie for a half an hour. Maxie was notoriously late so it was no surprise. The bell on the door rang and Lulu looked up half expecting it to be Maxie when she recognized her brother Lucky and his partner walking in. She hadn't really paid much attention to him the night she met him but she did remember his name was Dante. Now she wondered how she could have ignored the guy. He was gorgeous. A great body, obviously worked out, hair that just begged a girl to run her hands through it and deep chocolate brown eyes that you could get lost in and that was just from a distance.

"Hey sis. You alone?"

"For now, but I'm meeting Maxie for a quick bite and she's late as usual."

Dante stood just behind Lucky not wanting to interrupt but told Lucky he was going to sit at the bar and order.

"Why don't you and Lucky eat with Maxie and I? It's no telling when she's going to get here and I have to leave by 1:00 for a 2:00 conference call."

Dante looked at Lucky and shrugged his shoulders, "It's okay with me."

Lucky and Dante both pulled out a chair and sat down. Dante looked across the table at Lulu as she was looking at the menu and remembered how beautiful she was the night he met her at the Haunted Star. She sure didn't disappoint, she was just as beautiful if not more so in the light of day. Her hair shined like no other he'd ever seen and looked so soft he wanted to touch it to confirm it was so. He held himself in check and signaled to the waitress that he was ready to order. "I don't know if you guys are ready but I'm going to go ahead and order. I have a big bed calling to me after I get done eating."

Lulu looked up and furrowed her brow, "Bed this early?"

"He had another all nighter on the murder case he is still working on."

Lulu sympathized. She had been pulling a lot of those herself for the past week preparing to take over ELQ. "Well by all means order, I wouldn't want to keep you from your bed."

Dante wasn't sure but he heard a definite hint of flirting there and looked up into her eyes. There was definitely a devilish glint there and he knew that flirty hair flip she had just performed. He was no newcomer to this game. The waitress walked over and Dante ordered, "Bowl of chili and don't hold the heat."

Lulu laughed. "I like a man who can take a little heat."

Dante smiled back at her not holding back the charm and her heart almost stopped. Lulu though she had better watch out. This guy is a charmer and probably has a girl in every port. It wouldn't hurt to flirt, it had been a while since she had been interested in a guy. The men in Italy were gorgeous but she liked American men. There was a definite difference and Dante was the best of both worlds, Italian American.

Lulu, Lucky and Dante ordered and talked about their jobs. Lucky had told Dante about Lulu taking over ELQ and Dante seemed genuinely interested in how she was liking it.

Lulu told him, "I'll let you know after my 2:00 conference call."

Dante surprised himself and asked, "How'd you like to tell me about it at dinner tonight?"

Both Lulu and Lucky gave Dante a surprised look. But Lulu said, "Sure that would be great. What time and where should I meet you?"

Dante gave her the name and address of Sonny Corinthos' restaurant. It was the best in town and he wanted to make a good impression. Lulu wrote it down and agreed to meet him there at 8:00 tonight.

"You think that's enough time for you to get some rest?"

"I'll make it through. See you tonight." Dante went to the register to pay his bill and waved at Lucky and Lulu as he left the tip on the table.

Lucky looked at Lulu a little shocked. "You know he's Sonny's son right?"

"I think I remember you mentioning that. Is there a problem?"

"No, but he comes with a lot of baggage. It's hard enough being a cop and Luke Spencer's kid can you imagine being a cop and Sonny's kid?"

Lulu shook her head and stood up. "That's not a position I would envy but it's not like this is serious. It's a date not an engagement."

Lucky waved her off when she opened her purse to get her wallet. "I'll get this, you go prepare for your conference call. Good luck."

Lulu kissed him on his cheek and told him thanks for the lunch and ran out the door. Maxie walked up as she was leaving with a what the fuck look.

"You snooze you lose," joked Lulu. "I told you I had a conference call. I can't wait around for you all day." She patted Maxie's protruding tummy and told her they would have to have lunch another day.

"Why don't you come over to mine and Matt's apartment tonight for dinner?"

"Sorry, I've got a date."

Maxie looked perplexed as she watched Lulu walk around the corner. She turned to go into Kelly's and Lucky walked out. "Who has Lulu got a date with tonight?"

He responded as he was walking by, "Didn't she tell you? Dante Falconeri."

Maxie looked stunned. She hoped Lulu knew what she was getting into. She would have to make a note to call Lulu tomorrow and tell her what little she knew about Dante. She didn't think he was someone Lulu would want to get involved with considering Lulu's past with drama. Lulu had definitely simplified her life since she had left Port Charles and Maxie didn't see Lulu wanting to change that.