Before she could push the 'close doors' button, Johnny had already rounded the corner, extending his hand for her to take.
"Good evening Miss Webber."
Elizabeth noticed her hand trembling, and took the guard's hand so he wouldn't notice. "Nice to see you again Johnny."
He guided her hand through his bent elbow, leaning over to reassure her. "Relax. Mr. Corinthos isn't that bad. And Mrs. Corinthos? Well, she's Mrs. Corinthos. You'll do fine." He opened the door to announce her, oblivious to the mask of fear on her face. He graced her with a wink, leading her into the penthouse, and then closing the door behind her.
Sonny emerged from the kitchen at the sound of the door opening. He greeted her warmly, planting a kiss on her cheek. "Welcome to my home." His arm swept out, allowing her to take in her surroundings.
Her first impression of the penthouse had been short lived, the day he approved of her as a tenant, and hired her as a secretary. Elizabeth barely got a glimpse of what penthouse consisted of. Burgandies, hunter greens, browns. It was dark and comforting. Heavy damask drapes hung from the windows, giant tasseled ropes puling them back. The sectional was piled high with over stuffed pillows, all colored to match their surroundings. And, amidst all the order, all the rich tapestries, there were toys. Air planes, speed boats, and helicopters. Race cars, teddy bears, and children's books.
Elizabeth turned back to her host, slightly taken aback by his casual demeanor. His hair was slightly disheveled from the steam in the kitchen. He had opened the top two buttons of his dress shirt, and had even rolled up the sleeves to his elbows. He still had the dress pants and wing tip shoes on, but it was the dishtowel in his pants pocket that got her laughing.
Sonny cocked his head, his dimples playing hide and seek as his lips toyed with the notion of curving into a smile. "What's so funny?" he asked, hands on his hips. When she didn't answer, he looked down and noticed the dishtowel. His smile widened, "It's the dish towel, isn't it?" He nodded, "Yeah, I know. But you see, I'm the only one who cooks around here. Nobody gets in my kitchen without me. And I mean nobody."
"Not even me."
Elizabeth and Sonny both turned to the voice that came from the top of the stairs, and Sonny crossed the room to greet his wife and son.
"Elizabeth, I'd like you to meet my wife, Carly Corinthos, and her son, Michael." His hand reached up to ruffle the little boy's red hair. "Carly, this is my new secretary, Elizabeth Webber." He took Michael from Carly so she could shake hands with Elizabeth.
"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Corinthos," Elizabeth greeted with a slight nod.
Carly instantly put the younger woman at ease, laughing at being called Mrs. Corinthos. "Oh honey, only the help calls me that! You can call me Carly." Her smile lit up the penthouse, her laugh equally infectious.
Elizabeth blushed slightly, her gaze falling on the squirmy little boy that Sonny was trying to contain. "Mommy!" he cried, his arms stretched to the limits towards his mom.
"Oh, come here, Mr. Man," she groaned, taking him from Sonny so he could finish dinner. Carly pressed a kiss to Michael's cheek, then pulled back to make sure she didn't get lipstick on him. "Michael? Can you say hi to Elizabeth?" She smoothed the boy's hair, planting another kiss on his head.
He bowed his head, his cheeks turning slightly pink. "Hi."
"Hi," Elizabeth replied, her smile warm. "I bet you would rather play with the airplane I saw over there than talk to me, huh?" She pointed in the direction of the couch, laughing when he turned into a worm, sliding out of Carly's grip. "You have a beautiful boy, Mrs. Cor- Carly," she corrected after receiving a playful glare. Both women turned when Sonny returned from the kitchen asking them if they wanted anything to drink.
Carly asked for a glass of white zinfandel, and Elizabeth asked for a beer. Sonny's eye brow cocked slightly, but he nodded, turning back to the kitchen, only to return a minute later with their drinks, and a scotch for himself.
Elizabeth took a drink, noticing that Sonny's eyes never left her. "Let me guess. You don't drink a lot of beer?"
He chuckled, bowing his head at getting caught. "No, actually, I don't. There's only one person whom I associate with who drinks beer. So I keep it on hand just in case. Actually," he glanced at his watch, "He should be here soon."
Elizabeth was about to ask who when a knock came from the door.
All three turned to see who it was.
Johnny walked in, a little startled that everyone's eyes were on him.
"Uh, it's Mr. Morgan."