"So you are seriously planning to file that ridiculous assault and battery charge against my client?"
Arms folded, Jill waits for Roger to respond.
"Absolutely. Your client is on tape attacking the mayor of New York with a dangerous weapon. There is no way the government is not going to prosecute that to the fullest extent of the law."
Jill sighs, exasperated.
"Glitter. My client was expressing her deeply-held political beliefs by glitter bombing the mayor. If glitter were really a dangerous weapon, there would be class action lawsuits against kindergarten art classes everywhere popping up throughout the country."
Roger rolls his eyes.
"Don't trivialize this, Jill. Glitter can cause serious corneal damage. There is precedent for this charge."
"One case. One. In which the defendant pleaded guilty to disturbing the peace. This is absurd. No one got hurt. My client had no intent to physically harm anyone."
"Your client posted a video of herself on YouTube saying, "I can't wait to see the mayor crying like a little girl when he's covered in pink sparkles."
"My client was referring to embarrassment, not to physical pain. From corneal damage or anything else."
"Good luck proving that."
Jill is running out of arguments. She had known that trying to get Roger to drop the case was pretty much a lost cause but had figured it was worth a try.
"Well, I'm appalled that the government really intends to waste time and resources on this nonsense."
"You can be appalled as you like, but we're not dropping the charges. As you know, we take all threats to the personal safety of our officials very seriously. So, do you want to discuss a deal?
"Let me talk to my client. I'll be in touch."
Roger shrugs.
"All right. Are we done here then?"
Jill picks up her bag and folder full of papers, preparing to leave.
"I suppose we are…wait, what are you doing?"
It is an unnecessary question. The predatory gleam in Roger's eyes as he closes his office door tight and draws the blinds has made his intentions quite clear.
"We are at work!" she warns sternly as he approaches her.
"That's okay. This'll only take a moment." He takes the bag and papers from her and places them on his desk before pulling her into his arms.
There is nothing remotely okay about it. Jill knows perfectly well that this is a terrible idea. They had discussed the matter in detail shortly after they started sleeping together a few weeks ago. She had wanted to draw up an official contract governing appropriate workplace behavior. He was not in favor, insisting that they were both mature, reasonable, professional adults and that no contract was necessary. Clearly, she had been in the right. At this moment she knows there must be at least 100 reasons she could present regarding the issue of why displays of affection in the workplace are wrong, unprofessional, and reckless. The problem is that she is craving his touch with an aching intensity that makes rational thought extremely difficult and so, much against her better judgement, she allows Roger to gently push her up against his office wall and kiss her until she is gasping for breath. His hand lands on her hip, rubbing slow sensuous circles against the fabric of her skirt, and when his thumb dips under her waistband and caresses the bare skin there she feels her knees begin to go weak. They are just about to give way when suddenly there is the creak of a door opening and a shocked gasp splits the air.
Roger releases Jill so abruptly that she nearly loses her balance and is forced to grasp ungracefully at his arm to avoid landing on the floor. Together they look towards the open door, where a red-faced and open-mouthed Seth Oliver stands horrified.
"It's called knocking, Oliver!" Roger snaps. "Consider it next time!"
"Uh yes, sir. I'll come back later." He turns to flee, but Roger stops him.
"Sit!" he barks, gesturing toward the chair facing his desk. "If it's too important to knock first, I want to hear about it now!" Obediently Seth sits. In a softer tone, Roger says to Jill,
"Was there anything else?"
"Not right now. But I am going to need your signature on some important paperwork later this afternoon."
She can tell by his hangdog expression that he knows exactly what she means."
"Fine. Give me a call when it's ready and I'll come by to sign it."
"Fine."
She turns to leave.
"Bye Ms. Carlan. Sorry about that."
The young AUSA looks as though he is praying for the floor to open up and swallow him whole. She nods and gives him a little wave on her way out the door. Although she is frustrated by the interruption, irritated that she will now have to spend her afternoon drawing up a contract, and worried about becoming the subject of office gossip, she feels sorry for Seth Oliver. She has been unlucky enough to see Roger Gunn truly angry on a handful of occasions and it is not a pleasant thing to witness. She hopes he is feeling merciful today.