Tumblr Prompt: When a new member is introduced to the law firm, Chloe Beale decides to undermine the new competition by pretending to flirt with her. But things intensify when Beca Mitchell starts to flirt back, and pretty soon neither woman knows whether they're still pretending or not.
Cross your fingers for no technical difficulties this time!
All's Fair in Love and Law
Chloe Beale walked briskly into the prestigious law firm in California. She'd been top of her class and Valedictorian at Harvard Law in 2009 and had clawed her way to the top in just 3 short years, now a successful attorney to Hollywood's rich, powerful, and famous. The redhead wore a silky blouse tucked into a black pencil skirt with a matching blazer and a Gucci handbag swung from the crook of her elbow. Now a days, everyone seemed to scurry to get out of Chloe's way. Not like Chloe minded. She was a busy, efficient person who couldn't afford to be held up.
She flashed a small smile to her assistant who sat at a desk outside her office. Her Prada heels clicked on the floors as she strutted confidently inside. She sighed contently upon opening the door, finding a steaming hot Starbucks left on her desk by her assistant not minutes before. Chloe leafed through a filing cabinet, opened the file she'd been looking for, and began typing away rapidly at the keyboard of her computer, occasionally looking down at said file. Chloe wasn't one for wasting time and got straight to work.
Chloe had been working furiously on a case that had come in the week before. She was in the process of trying to get some big movie producer out of a financial scandal. It was trying work but Chloe didn't mind. The big, fat check at the end of each case didn't hurt either. Being one of Hollywood's most powerful attorneys had its perks. One thing it didn't leave time for, however, was love. Chloe didn't understand how some of the older lawyers in the place had time to manage families and relationships. Of course, this was Hollywood so many of them failed. Still, Chloe sometimes wondered how some of them had found the time to even meet someone in the first place.
She wasn't too concerned about it though. She was the youngest attorney in the firm's history. Having gotten the job basically straight out of law school, she had time. Besides, Chloe found it ridiculous to see things like the countless men that would come around to pick up her assistant, Stacie, for lunch or to take her home. There was nothing wrong with Stacie being promiscuous, it just seemed such an inefficient way to find the one, in Chloe's mind anyways. She'd been so loose and fun before law school. A laid back type. She'd also sang in collage as part of an A Capella group. She'd given that up too. Ever since she got into Harvard, it was all organization, efficiency, and all of that.
Chloe also had plenty of admirers, so finding a date wasn't the issue either. Both men and women would practically drool as the gorgeous redhead would walk past, swinging her hips on the way to meetings. To be quite honest, Chloe didn't know why she never went out on dates anymore. The reason she always gave was that she didn't have the time. Which was true, of course. Well, sometimes it really was true and sometimes Chloe made it true. Scheduling meetings, seeing clients, etc. It was all very time consuming, and when Chloe did have a day off or down time, she was usually so tired that she didn't want to leave her house in Beverly Hills.
Chloe looked up from her computer as Stacie poked her head through the door.
"Ms. Posen here to see you, Ms. Beale," she said.
"Very well. Send her in," Chloe said, smiling at the thought of seeing her boss and best friend. Aubrey Posen had graduated top of her year at Harvard a few years before Chloe. Aubrey had befriended the redhead as a freshman and they'd sustained their friendship throughout the years. Aubrey was actually the biggest reason Chloe had the job she did. Aubrey walked into the large office sporting a beige sheath dress paired with a black cinch belt and heels. Her blonde hair was down and in the normal large ringlets.
"Morning, Chloe," beamed Aubrey.
"Hey, Aubrey. What's up?" replied Chloe. Aubrey, unless picking Chloe up for lunch, didn't normally come tell Chloe things herself unless they were important.
"You know how we've been looking for a lawyer to fill the specialized financial position?" asked the blonde.
"Yeah. Find someone?"
"Mmhm, graduated in '09 from Yale Law School. She's been working with some smaller firms around the country with financial stuff and her resume is fantastic." Replied Aubrey.
"Great!" stated Chloe, "And why did this call for you to make a special visit down here?" Aubrey paused.
"Um, well…" she began, "Because you'll be supervising her while she learns the ropes." Chloe stopped typing.
"What?" she asked flatly, "Brey, I don't have time to supervise some wide-eyed new girl right now! Do you understand how big this case is?"
"Yes, Chloe, I do. But all your cases are big and I'm not the one who gets to make these choices. Amy wants the best on this job because this girl had a lot of potential. And you are the best," Chloe sighed, "I'm sorry, Chlo, but my hands are tied."
"No, I know. Sorry, I know it's not your fault," Chloe said, exhaling heavily, "I've just got a lot on my plate."
"I know," said Aubrey with a sympathetic smile, "If it helps, I've heard new girl is kinda cute." Chloe chuckled, as if she'd be into someone as threatening as a girl her age from Yale Law. Aubrey said her goodbyes and called over her shoulder that the new girl would be in to meet Chloe in five minutes.
For reasons Chloe didn't know, she straightened up her desk and then fixed her makeup in a pocket mirror she had in her purse. Chloe was confused, wasn't she supposed to not like this girl? Although Chloe's position was secure, that had nothing to do with her reputation. Chloe had worked too long and hard to gain the respect she now had in the law community and she wasn't about to have it snatched away by this new girl in town. Chloe put her things away in her purse as the door swung open to reveal a short brunette in a grey suit and black heels. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she carried a briefcase. Chloe had to admit that this girl was kind of cute.
"Hi. I'm Beca Mitchell."