ABC/DISNEY owns GH. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 21
"Diane, you look stunning. You have no idea how much it pains me to say that because you aren't wearing one of my dresses." Chloe said being outrageous and hugging on her friend, who also happened to be one of her muses. Diane was the reason Chloe Morgan Design now did corporate wear. The attorney always did the brand proud.
The redheaded lawyer was in a little black dress with some attitude. Sheer cap sleeves and a slit V neckline made you do a double take at what would otherwise be a basic dress. The fitted garment showed off Diane's figure without coming across as tacky. It was also a wonderful compliment to Francis's pale gray suit and tie. "I'm wearing you to the reception. I was going to call and ask you to pull something for me, but I saw the perfect dress in the boutique back in Port Charles."
"I can't wait to see what you selected." Chloe was looking forward to having a long catch up session with her friend. Port Charles was a city that never failed to be shocking. While she lived there three people returned from the dead. That wasn't something the designer could say about Dublin.
"Why don't I ever see you in your own clothes? I would think you would be the ultimate brand ambassador." Diane had wondered this for years. The designer was killing it in a double faced red paneled satin fitted dress. Because Diane knew fashion so well, she knew that it came from a well-known fashion house other than Chloe Morgan.
"I look around and see the clothes that other designers are producing and I fall in love. There are so many exciting outfits to try that the last thing I want to do is wear something I made." Chloe answered getting excited talking about the industry that she loved. She did her best to support other designers. "You really have to come to Milan fashion week with me one year." The two ladies settled into a discussion of fashion.
"How are things going here in Dublin?" Francis asked taking the Scotch on the rocks that the waiter brought over. It was just going to be the three couples tonight so he asked Johnny to book a private dining room at one of his favorite restaurants. They were at The Greenhouse, which was not a place the Corellis had tried yet. Johnny liked having the chance to show off how far Irish cuisine had come.
"Quiet, and that makes me happy." Johnny answered with his trademark grin in place. He was a man who smiled and laughed a great deal. Generally he loved life. However if you pissed him off you saw a different side to the Irish mob boss. O'Brien could be ruthless when it came to handing out retribution. Something that the men who tried to stop him from uniting the territories learned firsthand. "Don Giambetti arrived about an hour ago. I called to make sure everything was to his liking and then left them be."
Francis just nodded. It might surprise people to learn that Maximus and his wife Margareta were fairly low key individuals. He was comfortable with the mantle of power that he wore so he only flexed his muscle when necessary. That attitude was why a lot of people respected the Don. "Are Max and Milo here?"
"Yeah. They are dining with their parents." Johnny was looking forward to seeing his friends. Both Giambetti sons were frequent visitors to Ireland. "Most of the family heads will arrive tomorrow." Since it was a travel day the official start to the summit would be on Thursday. "I figure before the Giambettis go we'll have another dinner so everyone can catch up." Francis and Jason both liked Maximus's sons as well. Port Charles was just too far to visit often. "Is Jason going to be pouting about being forced to attend when he gets here? I want to take a picture."
"I'm guessing no. He spent the day showing his guest around Dublin, so he should be in a good mood." Francis loved having one on Johnny.
"What guest?" Johnny rarely missed much. He would be alerted when the rest of the summit participants arrived. Some of his guys would be stationed at the airport, and his second in command along with the Don's attaché were handling greetings for the more important families. The Corelli Morgan plane hadn't been watched because it wasn't necessary. "I thought Jason was coming alone?" Since the RSVPs were handled through Palermo Johnny didn't have a full guest list. He only got the names of family heads who might be a problem.
"Maximus recommended that Jason bring someone. Diane and Lila found the perfect person. It's going well." Francis finished up indicating that this was turning into more than just a plus one situation.
"Anyone I know?" Johnny didn't bother to hide his curiosity.
"No." Francis knew for a fact that Elizabeth hadn't ever met Johnny or Chloe. The foundation would have been the only place of overlap and while Chloe Morgan Designs gave generously, the designer didn't sit on the board. Nor did Chloe or Johnny go the Nurses' Balls. So they wouldn't have met there either. "You'll like her though. She isn't like any of Jason's other dates."
"If Lila and Diane were involved I would think not." Johnny just grinned. "I said seven." He looked at his watch. "They should be arriving shortly." Like he had summoned them the door to the room opened. "He's in suit." Johnny couldn't help himself.
"Very nice." Chloe's eyes moved over the fit of the garment as she nodded her approval. It didn't surprise her that her cousin carried it well. It was probably tailored by Joseph, and the man was truly gifted with a needle.
Diane just blinked in surprise. She had the same reaction to him in a tuxedo at the ball. She was going to try not to be annoyed when he went back to his blue jeans. Especially since she didn't think Liz would tolerate criticism; that thought made the lawyer smile. As did what the younger woman was wearing.
"Hi." Jason just shook his head at Johnny. On the car ride to the restaurant Jason explained that O'Brien was definitely going to pick on him. More than likely about the suit.
Chloe walked over to stand with her guy, but they didn't rush forward. It had to be hard enough walking into a room where everyone else already knew one another well. It wouldn't do to make Jason's guest feel more uncomfortable. The designer did smile because whoever was on Jason's arm was wearing the hell out of one of her dresses.
"Elizabeth, I'd like you to meet Johnny and Chloe O'Brien." Jason said making the introductions. Like Diane, Chloe used her husband's name socially.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Chloe went first. "You look smashing." She had to add on. From her time in the industry she knew that when someone wore one of your creations you needed to address that. Otherwise things got awkward. She could also tell Elizabeth wasn't wearing the dress in an attempt to suck up, the simplicity of the garment picked stated that. If she wanted attention Chloe had dresses that delivered on that.
"Thank you." Liz smiled relaxing some. "I saw it and had to have it."
"I'm glad you did." Chloe nodded noting that the petite woman had the dress altered to suit her frame. Clearly she knew that fit was everything. "It's not an easy dress to wear. There isn't anything to hide behind." No ruffles or bows. "You make it look flawless." She said giving more praise. "This is my husband, Johnny."
"Hello." Liz shook the hand of her host for the week. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Everyone has said good things about you both."
"Thanks." Johnny wanted to say something smart, but his girl would kill him. He knew enough to behave when meeting new people. "Have you seen much of Ireland?"
"Just the zoo and Dublinia so far. I have enjoyed the view from the car window immensely. Ireland is beautiful." Liz said relaxing further. Right now she had her host and hostesses attention, namely because she was the new person in the social circle. When they sat down the conversation would expand to include everyone.
"I love the zoo. Johnny thinks I'm loony because I go often. I even cried when the baby lemur was born last year." Chloe could admit that. "If you go back during this trip let me know and I'll arrange passes for you as we have a membership. Let's all sit." Chloe said moving them to the table, they could continue to chat there.
"How did you meet Jason?" Because Johnny wanted more on that.
"It's a pretty funny story." Liz said smiling up at her boyfriend as she sat in the chair he was holding out. "Would you like to tell it, or shall I?" She asked him after he sat next to her.
"You tell it. I'm not good at stories." He replied smiling. Even when he was relaxed and among friends he didn't talk much.
"Okay." Liz nodded as the server offered her some wine. "Diane can jump in because she has a starring role in the tale." Liz smiled across the table.
"I'd be happy to lend my voice to the narration." Diane assured her friend.
"I can't believe you agreed to a blind date." Johnny was kind of gob smacked. He was looking at Jason like he didn't know him. Then O'Brien grinned. "Lila is something else." His cousin through marriage was one of his heroes. There wasn't much she couldn't do.
"That she is." Liz nodded in total agreement.
"I like a woman that is confident enough to go after something she knows is right." Chloe said the admiration clear in her voice. "And I love it when she does it in my clothes." The designer added on laughing.
"This is nothing." Diane retrieved her phone from her bag. "You didn't go online to look at the pictures from the Nurses' Ball this year, did you?" The attorney knew because otherwise her friend would have commented on what Liz wore.
"No. I didn't dress anyone." Chloe would get around to that at some point, if for no other reason to see what Diane and Lila wore. "Who was best dressed?"
"Lila, of course. Everyone in Port Charles spends their time chasing her. She was stunning." Diane had come in second. "Look." She turned the phone so that everyone else at the table could see the image.
"Well damn." Chloe took the device to get a better look. "That's my dress, and you are slaying in it. How did I not know you wore one of my gowns?" It was another look that was on the muted end of the spectrum. The cut and color blocking was again something you needed to be confident about yourself to wear. "I'm going to need your full name. I want to make sure my boutiques have you on the VIP list." Which would net Liz a sizeable discount. "Do you ever wear bold patterns?"
"Rarely. They tend to swallow me up." Liz was looking in her purse for a business card.
"Diane is going to visit my boutique while here. When she comes you should too. I have some items I'd like to see you in." Chloe had some prints that would look fantastic on Elizabeth.
"Here's my card." Liz passed it to Jason, who handed it to his cousin.
"Elizabeth Webber." Chloe said and looked over at Johnny.
"Seriously?" He asked taking the card. "Elizabeth Webber." He looked at Jason's date surprised. "Is there another person in Port Charles with the same name?"
"No." Liz shook her head.
"Is there a problem?" Jason wanted to know. His cousin and friend were looking at Elizabeth with excitement. Diane and Francis were confused as well.
"No." Johnny took the question. "I may fanboy pretty hard in a few seconds. We have four of your paintings in our house. We also each have one in our offices." He responded grinning.
"You paint?" Diane hadn't known that. "Which painting?" She asked Chloe. Offices could mean anywhere in the building.
"The abstract in my office." Chloe only had one painting in the space because it was a good size. It was a combination of blues, purples, and greens. It never failed to calm her when she gazed at it.
"That painting is stunning." Diane commented on every time she saw it.
"I didn't know you sold your paintings." Jason remembered her mentioning the art classes.
"I only started last year. To fund my shoe habit." Liz said with a bit of nervous laughter. "If you have that painting then you bought it last fall during your visit to Port Charles. I was out of town, but Lila mentioned that you came." Liz was networking in New York City.
"I was walking down Main Street after a meeting." Johnny explained how they got the artwork. "I saw the sunset painting you did." It was another abstract with all the fiery colors of dusk bursting from the canvas. "I bought that one right then, it's in my office. I also put two more on hold. I took Chloe to the gallery the next day to see them."
"We bought those two, and the one in my office." Chloe had been thrilled with the find as they had a lot of blank walls in what was then their new home. "The last two I purchased through the gallery's webpage this past summer. The owner said she was hoping you were going to bring in more soon." Elizabeth didn't always have paintings in the gallery waiting to be sold.
"Possibly after Thanksgiving." Liz responded sipping her wine. They were having a tasting menu so there was no need to order. "I actually didn't take a class this fall, so if I take some artwork over they will be some of the paintings I have in my back stock." She just hadn't decided on which six yet, that was the number of paintings she delivered at one time.
"Can we see some of the paintings when we get home?" Francis would happily support Jason's girl if she has something he or Diane liked.
"No fair." Chloe wasn't about to get scooped. "We found her first." She said trying not to laugh. An artist as talented as Liz would no doubt have more works of interest.
"How come you haven't pursued art full time?" Jason asked curious. He was giving some thought to what she said about explaining paintings to him. He wanted to see her work. They would need to go to a museum here and try it.
"I love art, but it's a hobby." Liz tried to explain. "The foundation and the work we do is my passion." They were changing the world for the better, one project at a time. "The art fulfills something inside me. I can't really make it any clearer than that. I'm really lucky in that I have time for both. So I don't have to choose." She smiled at Jason as she talked.
He got it. He really did like his job, but bikes were his passion which was why he owned a garage that built them. The current Harley he rode had been custom built with his own two hands. So he totally got it. He was even more proud to be able to say Elizabeth was his girlfriend.
The other two couples around the table were smiling watching Liz and Jason interact. It was clear that something special was happening between them. Everyone at dinner tonight would support the new relationship, and Liz would be welcomed into the fold.
"Here comes our first course." Chloe would switch topics to something they could all talk about. At some point before the trip was over she hope to discuss art again with Elizabeth. "What is everyone doing tomorrow? Diane and Francis, why don't you start?" With that the meal got underway.
Thanks for the reviews!