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Chapter 2
He had to wait an hour to see his own wife. If he had called first then Francis could have spoken to her assistant, or someone else in the office since Abby was out at lunch when he first arrived, and found out his wife wasn't in her office. If he bothered to pull up the calendar on his phone then the reminder that she was meeting with the city council today would have alerted him to the fact that heading over to her law firm right then was pointless. However he didn't do either of those things. So he sat and worked on his phone until his wife showed up.
"This is a wonderful surprise." Diane said giving him a saucy smile. "Did you come by to hear the blow by blow of how I corralled the city council?"
"No." Francis stood up and as he did he let his eyes move over his wife's body. She was smoking hot, and much better than he deserved. He really hoped that she never figured that out. "That you would win was a no brainer. There is no one in that room on your level."
"That's better than a bouquet of flowers." Diane said taking the praise that was her due. "Are you in trouble?" She asked brightly knowing that wasn't the case. If he was he wouldn't be here, he'd be down the hall. Claire was his attorney because New York state law wouldn't let Diane represent him.
"Yup." Francis said with a wide grin. "Let's go into your office." Abby was a great assistant, and kept his wife's professional life running smoothly. He just didn't really like her, and never discussed personal business in front of her.
"Okay. Hold my calls." Diane said taking the message slips Abby was holding out.
"Absolutely." Abby watched the married couple go into the office and when the door shut she pulled out her copy of Crimson. She was all caught up with work, and this month there was a spread on how Corelli Morgan International was rehabbing another section of the docks to make them safer. While Jason hadn't consented to an interview, there were several pictures of him with the article.
"What kind of trouble are you in?" Diane asked making him a cup of coffee.
"Jason has been instructed to attend this year's summit." Francis told his wife taking the mug.
"I'm licensed to practice in Ireland. I'm sure I can get him out after he hurts someone." She said only half kidding.
"Maximus suggested Jason bring a plus one." Francis said getting right down to the issue. "In turn he has instructed me to find her because he said this whole situation was my fault." Francis was laughing, now that a little bit of time had passed he could see the humor in all this.
"Is this because you promised him he could stay in his office?" Diane had been seeing the humor in this since her honey bunny started talking. "Did he pout?"
"It was a near thing." Francis was still laughing. "I think it was the suits that really set him off though."
"Suits?" Diane asked intrigued.
"Jason needs to go buy some for this week." Francis said with a wide smile. "I expect to hear that hives occurred."
"This is going to be the best week of my life. I'm taking pictures every day because he may never wear a suit again." Diane had been trying to get Jason to spruce up his wardrobe for years now. "Is that what you needed my help with? I'm sure your tailor will guide Jason through the process, hopefully without getting shot." She quipped.
"I need your help with the plus one." Francis corrected her.
"I'm sorry my business card says attorney, not match maker." Diane replied with an arched brow.
"We both know there is no way I'm going to find a woman for Jason to take to Ireland for an entire week. At least not one who won't irritate the hell out of him." Francis gave his wife a look. "The only single women I know all work for us and we have a policy about that." Fraternization was fine, but no meant no. If any of the guys violated that they paid for it. There were not going to be any sexual harassment charges on his watch. Secretaries were another thing Sonny liked. "You know classy women who won't embarrass Jason or the organization."
Diane pursed her lips and gave it some thought. She did know classy women, but the question was did she know the right woman for her client. Opening the bottom drawer of her desk she removed her purse and retrieved her cell phone. "I need to come see you. It's urgent." Diane listened. "I'm on my way." Ending the call she got to her feet. "I need to take a meeting."
"Where are you going?" Francis didn't hide his curiosity.
"That is privileged information." She came around her desk and dropped a kiss on his lips. "You should go check on Jason. Or rescue your tailor, if it's necessary."
"Do I at least get a name? When you get it." Francis wanted to know.
"Once I get a name I'll swing by Jason's office to set up a time for them to talk." Diane had no doubt the person she had called could provide a suitable young woman. "I'll call you when I'm heading over to the coffee house."
"Fair enough." Francis said walking her out. Sal was waiting by the car and opened the door. "See you then."
"Yes, you will." Diane said giving him a wave before turning to tell Sal where they were going.
"Knock knock." Diane said smiling from the doorway.
"Hello." Lila maneuvered her wheelchair out from behind her desk and out to greet her visitor. "You look smashing as always." She very much liked Diane.
"I'm just trying to keep up with you. As Port Charles's most fashionable woman ten years in a row you have set the bar high." The attorney said smiling at her friend. She adored Lila. The woman was smart, funny, had a sharp wit, and killer shoe collection. The matriarch of the Quartermaine clan said that the wheelchair wasn't going to stop her from looking fierce. Mission accomplished.
"Your assistant is out." Diane explained why she just walked in.
"I know. Georgie is currently with Elizabeth who is making me look good by giving an interview to the Port Charles Herald. They are running a feature on our work with the Pediatric AIDS ward at the hospital." Lila told her friend. "Hiring Liz was the best decision I ever made. At some point she will let me give her an assistant to go with her position." Liz said she could keep her own schedule. The younger woman had started out as a receptionist and quicky proved capable of much more. She was now Lila's public liaison and second in command. The older woman was thinking she had finally found a successor to one day run the foundation.
"Liz is very capable." Diane took a seat. "I'd steal her for myself if I thought I could."
"That suit would look horrible with tire tracks on it." Lila said cracking them both up. "What can I do for you?" Diane was often busy.
"Jason." Diane would start there. "He has been told by Palermo that he has to attend this year's summit."
"Is the messenger still alive?" Lila wanted to know.
"The messenger was Frannie, so yes he is. Jason won't kill him because your grandson would have to go to meetings then." Diane said with a bright smile.
"Did you need me to tell Jason to stop pouting?" Lila wasn't sure what her role in all this was.
"No. Maximus also suggested that Jason bring a plus one." Diane said supplying more details.
"So that Jason will have a reason to ignore everyone else when they are together. At say a dinner." Lila started connecting the dots. "The Don is not a fool."
"He's very smart. Smart enough to know Jason won't want to be there." Diane added before continuing. "Your grandson told my husband that since this was his fault Frannie had to find the plus one."
"Francis then came to you in a panic." Lila said smiling wide.
"Exactly, and now I'm here with you." Diane could admit when she was out of her depth. "I have no desire to lose friends by playing matchmaker. Jason can be…prickly, which is not something everyone will understand." She said searching for an adjective. "Also to be honest I have no friends he will even want to pretend date."
"That was very politically correct of you." Lila said with a smirk. "My grandson can be hard to get to know on a good day. That was why he has always attracted the wrong type of woman. His past girlfriends have been drawn by his job and reputation. The type of woman he needs he has no idea how to approach." A big part of that was that he was self-conscious about his brain damage. There was a part of Jason that still felt inferior and that was his parents fault. How they treated him after he woke up from his coma left emotional scars.
"I also need someone who can drop everything and go to Ireland for a week." Diane started going down the list. "She needs to be patient when dealing with Jason. She needs to be able to hold a conversation so that he doesn't have to talk much when socializing. She needs to understand that less is more when it comes to makeup and that more is less when it comes to clothing. A dry sense of humor would also be helpful." Jason had his grandmother's British wit. "And I need her now."
"Is the summit that close?" Lila wanted to know.
"We leave in ten days. I was thinking that a few nights out here in Port Charles would take away any awkwardness between them. Jason doesn't want it to appear that he's with an escort. He will want whoever he takes to be respected. His reputation alone will ensure that, but I got the impression from Francis that Jason is ready for that upgrade you just mentioned."
"I have the perfect candidate." Lila said with a slow smile. "I have been trying to figure out how to play matchmaker and you have handed it to me. Close the door please."
"This will be good." Diane did as requested before sitting back down. "Who do you have in mind?"
"Elizabeth." Lila said mentioning the young woman they were talking about earlier. "She ticks every single box you mentioned. I can spare her for a week, especially since she is overdue for a vacation. More importantly I have seen my grandson watching her."
"Would she be willing to go to Ireland with him?" Diane was ready to give this pairing her seal of approval. Elizabeth would be amazing for this, and yes she would be a perfect girlfriend for Jason.
"We won't know unless we ask her." Lila looked at the clock. "She and Georgie should be back within the half hour. Can you stick around?"
"If you don't mind me sitting here answering emails I can." Diane had the largest phone on the market so that she could work anywhere.
"Be my guest." Lila would do some work as well. "Help yourself to the tea maker if you'd like."
"Thanks for letting me come with you today. I learned a lot." Georgie had recently been promoted and dealing with the press wasn't something she was used to. As Lila's executive assistant that would be changing.
"You're welcome." Liz really liked Georgie. She thought the younger woman was a welcome addition to the executive staff. "I'm sure your sister can give you pointers too." Maxie worked for Kate Howard.
"Maxie rarely takes my calls since moving to Paris." Georgie joked with a grin. "I'm not an A-lister." Celebrities were a routine part of her sister's life these days.
"Maybe someday that will change." Liz said laughing at the joke. "The first time I had to deal with the press I was nervous. The second, third, and fourth times too. After a while it gets easier. It helps that we deal with the same reporters most of the time."
"Starr seemed nice." Georgie didn't know the other woman at all.
"She is. Her dad is strange though." Liz said being honest. "He gives Lila a lot of free press, so he can't be too bad." They reached the main office. "Lila's door is closed."
"She doesn't have a meeting scheduled." Georgie commented as she walked to her desk to see if the interoffice message light was on. Since it wasn't she picked up the receiver. "Hi, we are back."
"Excellent is Liz with you?" Lila knew the closed door would get their attention.
"She is." Georgie looked at her friend.
"Send her in please." Lila requested before ending the call. "Elizabeth is here."
Diane simply put away her phone. She was going to let Lila take the lead here. Knowing when to lead and when to follow was an important skill. Many people would do better in life if they had it. When the door opened and Liz stepped in the attorney smiled.
"Hello." Liz liked Diane and knew her well through the foundation. The Corellis always gave generous donations.
"Hello Liz." Diane found herself hoping this worked the younger woman was they type of woman Jason needed on his arm. From a wardrobe perspective alone she was perfect. Elizabeth was in V neck pale blue jumpsuit with a buckle accent at the waist. It was a stylish, and very modern while still polished, office look. Her feet were in dark blue sling back kitten heels which gave the ensemble a pop of color. On her wrist was a platinum bracelet watch, around her neck a glimpse of silver was seen and in her ears were diamond studs.
"You wanted to see me?" Liz was wondering why since it was clear Diane was staying.
"I did. Close the door please and have a seat." Lila asked rolling over to the sitting area again. "Everything went well?" Not that she doubted it would.
"It did. Starr came out to do the story." Liz respected that Starr was working in the paper that she would someday own. She said that she couldn't make decisions if she didn't know how things worked. "We will be on the second page at the top, tomorrow. With Mayor Floyd having a sex scandal he is getting the entire front page."
"Understandable." Lila was happy with the placement. "I have a pitch for you."
"Really?" Liz crossed her legs and leaned forward a bit. "Have you and Diane been stirring the pot?"
"In a matter of speaking." Lila told the younger woman. "Before we start I want you to know your answer will not affect you job here in any way."
"Okay." Liz looked between the two women. "Now I'm intrigued." She didn't think Lila would ask her to break the law, but Diane's presence still hadn't been explained. "Continue, please."
"I have a question for you." Lila did just that.
Her boss's blue eyes were twinkling with mischief so Liz was thinking this was going to be good. "Go on." She said with a grin.
Diane just watched the two of them. You could see they liked and respected each other.
"How would you like to go to Ireland?" Lila started her proposal.
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