It started out as one of those rare autumn days where the sun filters through the trees full of reds and yellows casting shadows on the pavement below. The airs was crisp enough for a pullover yet warm enough to go without as well. Central Park was bustling with early morning joggers, business men with their newspaper and coffee, and Piper Chapman wrapped in a tight embrace with her husband of only a year.
It was a normal day.
Piper pulled away from Larry first. This was always the case never the other way around. Hand and hand they strolled to the edge of the park where Larry gave her a quick peck before disappearing into the back of a taxi. Piper waved him off before heading in the opposite direction towards the book store she owned with best friend, Polly.
Together, they brought the shop four years earlier and originally started off in a dismal location in a not so appealing part of the city. After landing several high-profile authors for exclusive book signings or readings they were able to relocate to a more prominent area in a larger building. Polly may have put up the initial capital, but Pipers charisma along with her honest blue eyes and winning smile had secured the kind of clientele they needed to succeed. The word of a quick tongued ruthless woman, willing to steal business from her own mother if necessary, spread like wildfire throughout New York's elite business owners. Being donned such a horrific title may have bothered any other person, not Piper. She used it as fuel and continued to land best-selling authors before the competition even knew what hit them.
She linked her ear bud around one ear letting the other hang off to the side as she browsed her playlist. The barista immediately recognized Piper when she walked in; she raised a finger with a smile to let Piper know her order would be up shortly. Back on the street, Piper moved along with the morning rush of the city humming and strumming her fingers against the drinks. From the outside looking in this life – the perfect husband, successful business, along with such a feeble routine may easily be considered mundane. Boring. For Piper, after years of 'traveling' this was everything she could wish for.
Rounding the corner she found Polly cursing at the gate to the stores entrance. She laughed to herself, receiving a nasty glare from her companion.
"Why are you always the last one here? For once I'd like to see you fight with these damn things." Polly spat as she finally won the battle against the gate. Piper let out a loud snort.
"For once I'd like to see you buy the coffee." She shrugged. "We can only hope, I suppose."
"You're a riot." Polly countered snatching the coffee from her.
It was only an hour into the work day and Polly was already in the middle of a heated phone conversation. Piper successfully tuned her out until she hung up and beamed up at her business partner.
"I hope you brought your A game today, P." Piper arches an eyebrow, waiting for Polly to undoubtedly throw a wrench in her perfect morning. "I just landed a meeting with that new author I told y'about. You know the felon turned author?" Confused, Piper shakes her head. Polly rummages through the mound of paper work atop her desk. "Shit, I can't find the pitch. She wrote a story about her time in prison and the women she met while there. Supposedly, there is already talk of turning it into a film or television series. Not exactly my forte but this could bring some publicity our way, which is always good. She has agreed to grant an exclusive excerpt reading followed by a book signing to one New York store of her choosing."
"What's her name?" Piper inquires already dreading the meeting she will be attending solo. Nothing about convincing an ex-con to grant her an exclusive sounds interesting. First times authors were not only risky they tended to have a god complex after just being published.
"I don't remember. I have it all written somewhere." She continues throwing papers off her desk. "Her managers' name is Mel that's who I've corresponded with." Polly throws her hands up in defeat. "Fuck, I just had it. The meetings at noon, I will find it by then."
"Polly, why don't you go this time? It's not like she will be a repeat client, unless she plans on going back to prison. Part two." Piper chuckles at her own joke. Polly doesn't find the humor.
"Remember the last time I tried to persuade a client?" Both women cringe as they think back to the meeting that ended with them wearing their meal, rather than eating it. "Besides, I figure she will relate to you better."
"Why, because I've spent so much time in a women's prison?" Piper sneers sarcastically.
"No. She was a drug dealer. We both know you carry a soft spot for drug peddling women." Polly's tone is nonchalant, not realizing her comment has resurfaced a million demons. Piper grits her teeth, gathers her things and without a word abruptly leaves the office. Knowing she has stuck her foot in her mouth Polly is at her heels before she reaches the exterior doors. "Piper, c'mon, shit I didn't mean it that way." Piper doesn't turn around she waves her hand dismissing the empty apology.
"It's fine. I'm not dressed for a client meeting. I have to stop off at the apartment. E-mail me the address and details when you find them."
Polly had quickly emailed the location and time of the meeting but failed to include the information Piper asked for. Either she had yet to find the details or had simply neglected to forward them along. Piper was grateful the meeting was at a publishing house she often frequented due to her large clientele. The receptionist directed her to the seventh floor after simply giving her the name, Mel. She was lucky the receptionist was familiar with her and didn't ask too many questions.
Piper arrived at the waiting area fifteen minutes early where she was greeted with a warm smile from a brunette who informed her Ms. Cartwright would be right with her. Was Cartwright the author's name or the managers? Piper felt incredibly unprepared and nervously began shaking her right leg. All of her text and phone calls to Polly were going unanswered. How could she possibly have a successful meeting if she didn't even have the vital information she needed?
The clock read five till when her phone began to buzz with the saving grace. She fumbled nearly dropping the phone she was so full of relief.
Polly:
Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by A.V.
Piper scoffed to herself at the lack of a full name. Initials were a new thing for authors attempting to be mysterious. To pass time she began inventing ridiculous names to fit the initials. Before long she arrived at the name she had avoided for years. All at once the pieces fell into place.
'She was a drug dealer.'
A.V.
Alex Vause.
Fuck.
Piper was at her feet ready to make an escape when the office door swung open. A petite blonde who looked like she belonged on the cover of a magazine flashed a warm smile. "Hello, Ms.-" She looked down at the file in her hand. "Ms. Chapman, we are ready for you now."
Pipers' heart was threatening to beat right out of her chest at the mere thought of Alex on the other side of the door. Her feet stayed cemented in place as she tried to rationalize with herself. There were probably plenty of drug dealing women with the initials A.V. right? Alex wouldn't write a memoir, especially about prison. No, it was all just her mind playing tricks on her.
She shakes off her brief lapse in judgment and returns the blondes smile. Inches from the threshold she watches the woman turn to someone behind the partition. Piper notices the woman's eyes glint as she whispers something Piper can't make out.
The moment the raspy chuckle reaches Pipers ears her heart misses a beat.
It was her.
All sense out the window Piper bolts through the reception area out the double glass doors frantically begins pressing the elevator button. As soon as the doors open she lunges inside desperate to escape. She is too late. Seconds before the doors shut a hand sends them bouncing back open.
There she stands - Alex Vause in all her glory, wearing her trademark sly smirk.
"Is this a bad time to say hi?"
Today started out a normal day.
Authors Note: Not sure how I feel about this one yet. Let me know what you think, constructive criticism or suggestion welcome. Thanks for reading!