Chapter Five: Just Business

'Beep Beep Beep!'

Courtney's alarm clock had gone off right at 8a.m. sharp. "Ugh, it can't be, no, it is" Courtney said, searching for the off button. It felt as if she only slept for an hour that night.

"Turn off!" Courtney grumbled under her breath as she hit the clock. "Ugh" her head hit her pillow, pulling her covers over her head.

"Ding Dong"

Courtney uncovered herself and looked at her ceiling letting out a heavy sigh. "Who could that be so freakin early" She complained as she got up and walked to her door.

"Yes?" Courtney opened her door rubbing her eyes.

"Ms. Matthews..........."

"Oh My God" She shrieked.

"Did I come at a bad time?"

"Um. I- Ok. One Second, Ok?" Courtney shut the door leaning against it. "Smart Courtney, note to self: Remember to put a robe on next time before answering a door in your lingerie!"

1minute later.

"Heh Heh Heh, Excuse me for that. It's early, and well, my mind didn't follow me out of the bed" Courtney smiled through her teeth.

"It's quite alright, happens to the best of us" Lorenzo walked in, hands in pocket, trying not to laugh.

"Uh huh, you better keep that in, Lorenzo" Courtney said giving him the eyes.

Lorenzo put his hands in the air. "No laughing here, just me, smiling"

"Okay then" Courtney put her finger down. "I thought we were working at the office today?"

"Well, I thought we could work here, for a while, instead of you rushing to work, since you stayed up so late. I figured you would be too tired" Lorenzo said, hoping she didn't take that the wrong way.

"I- yeah sure, I guess we could work from here" Courtney raised her eyebrow. "Wait a minute, do you not want me to go to my office or you're being sincere?"

"I'm completely being sincere, Courtney" Lorenzo said.

"Okay, then. Well, I still need to get changed, so help yourself to some coffee, you have to heat it up though, and I will be right out" Courtney smiled and walked into her room.

"Thanks" He smiled and got himself a cup for the coffee.

Ring Ring.

"I got that!" Courtney said tripping over room mess. "Ouch, Hello?"

"Courtney, are you okay?" Carly asked.

"Hey Carly. Yeah, I'm fine, what's up?" Courtney said finally sitting.

"You tell me, what's going on with you?"

"What do you mean, Carly? With Lorenzo?" Courtney lowered her voice.

"Yeah, with Lorenzo. Why are you talking low?" Carly asked confused.

"Okay first of all, Lorenzo and I are only working together for a while. It has NOTHING to do with Sonny or Jason, and it's totally legal. So stop worrying Carly. I already had a run in with Sonny and Jason about this, and I don't need one from you okay?" Courtney sighed.

"Hey, okay okay, Im not going to lecture you. I mean you did help save the man after everything he did to me and you. I just wanted to know, if everything is okay, and if was really true. I guess it is huh?"

"Yeah, Carly. We're not even friends okay" Courtney lowered her voice again.

"Courtney, why are you talking low again? Is Lorenzo there or something?" Carly asked, brushing a piece of hair behind her ear.

"Yes, Carly. We're about to go over some things" Courtney rolled her eyes.

"What? Why didn't he just go to your office?"

"Well, I was out late last night with Rosie, and we ran into each other out there, and well, to cut a long story short, he showed up this morning because he knew I didn't get enough sleep, so he offered to go over the business over here"

"Really? Wow, how generous of him" Carly got off the couch, rolling her eyes.

"Carly, come on, don't be mad. This is just business, that's it" Courtney finished brushing her hair.

"Okay, just becareful. Not of him, just with, what your doing, Okay? Call me later, Courts" Carly hung up thinking for awhile.

Courtney threw her phone on the bed, and finished getting ready. It had been over 5minutes. "I'm sorry that took so long, Carly called me and, well yeah" Courtney pointed back to her room.

"I see, it's okay Courtney, no need to apologize" Lorenzo smiled. "Here, I made you a cup too"

"Aw Thanks, I needed that" Courtney sat beside him and took the cup. "Wow, it's still hot"

"Yes, I figured you would be awhile, so I heated it up just like you said"

"Fantastic. So, now that your here, let's get started" Courtney placed her cup down and reached for her papers.

"Okay, so do you know what part, area of the business you want to sell, or the whole thing?" Lorenzo asked placing his cup down also.

"Hmm, well actually I don't know. That's what you're going to help me with" Courtney grinned. "So, what exactly are you looking for?"

"Half of the company, I get all that I need, and you come out with all that you need. How is that?" Lorenzo asked.

"Sounds, fine to me. Ever since I was given this business, it's been stressful, having someone take over half of it would be great" Courtney agreed. "Just sign these forms, and your all set"

"Will do" Lorenzo took out his pen and signed. "All Done" He placed it back in his pocket. "Here you go, pleasure doing business with you Ms. Matthews" Lorenzo smiled graciously.

"Oh, please, call me Courtney"

"Courtney"

"And your welcome" Courtney smiled.

"Well, I believe we are done here. Are you going into the office today or calling it a day?"

"I don't know. I maybe will stop by there later on, right now I need to run some errands and things"

"Ah, I see. Well, I will see you at the office later on if you want" Lorenzo walked to her door.

"Oh yeah, sure. Do you need an office or you'll be working from home?"

"We'll see. I will let you know ahead of time though" Lorenzo opened the door and stepped out.

"Okay then, see you later" Courtney said approaching her door.

"Bye, Courtney" Lorenzo shook her hand and went on his way.

"Bye"

"He just left sir. Do you want me to take the hit now?"

"No, not yet. I need more evidence of everything first. I will be in touch. Thanks" Lansing hung his phone up in his office and smiled.

"We'll catch them sooner or later"

"Sonny, I think someone might be following Courtney"

"Yeah, you are"

"No, that's not what I mean. I mean, there was this guy on a cell phone with a gun"

"Seriously?"

"Yeah Sonny. I don't want Courtney getting hurt. Did you put that guy out there to take out Alcazar or what?" Jason asked upset.

"No"

"Then who did?"

"Let me give you one good guess who did" Sonny clasped his fingers together as he sat.

"Who? Faith?"

"Nope"

"Ric! That S.o.B. He could be after Courtney too"

"He won't touch her, she can take care of herself, so she says" Sonny shrugged.

Jason slowly nodded in agreement. "Yeah, your right. Still, I want to make sure she's okay"

"You don't need to do that Jason. She's fine" Sonny pointed out.

"Sonny, someone needs to be protecting her"

"She can protect herself Jason. You don't...need to be protecting her every second. You two are over" Sonny looked at him.

Jason turned around and left out of Sonny's Penthouse, obviously upset.

"Shesh"

"Well, can you blame him Sonny?" Carly asked walking down the stairs.

Sonny turned to look at her then back towards the wall, like he usually did, shaking his head.

"Take the guy out who is watching Courtney's house, A.S.A.P damnit" Lorenzo demanded and slammed his phone down.

"What's going on Uncle Lorenzo?" Sage asked walking into his apartment.

"Nothing, Sage. Everything is fine" Lorenzo smiled and gave his niece a hug.

"Doesn't sound that way? I don't want you getting hurt again. Please becareful" Sage worried.

"I will, don't worry. Now don't you need your rest? You got your recording going on tomorrow"

"Yeah, I do. Thanks Uncle Lorenzo" Sage smiled and went to her room.

Lorenzo waited until she was out of sight, and dialed a familiar number.

"I need your help, right away"

And that would be the Fifth Chapter! Hope you guys enjoyed it! I think as the story unfolds, there's going to be lots of plots, secrets, and action! And let's not forget, Romance!! Hehe:) Stay tuned for the next chapter of...General Hospital, "Second Chances" Dun Dun Dun!