**as we are all aware I own nothing of these characters except my own little OC. I just get bored and like to borrow well established characters.**
She walked into the office late.
"Your first appointment is waiting." said the receptionist handing her the file.
"I'm so sorry. Not used to the public transportation around here. Give me five minutes. Is there coffee?" she asked.
The receptionist looked at her funny. "We have a kettle for tea? Ella doesn't drink coffee. I can send out for one?"
"Could you? That would be great. Uh, just the biggest size black coffee they have. Thanks!" she said rushing down the hall. "Five minutes." she called out. Erna Halbeck had come to London fresh from obtaining her Masters in clinical psychology. She had come to begin work on her doctorate in hopes of teaching as a professor. Her friend, Ella Thompson had offered her a place to stay in trade for her filiing in or her at her practice while she was on holiday. She hoped there was no cultural barrier from America to London but there was bound to be some oddities.
"Hello." came a voice behind her. She dropped the file on the desk.
"Excuse me, who are you?" she asked seeing a tall thin man crossing through the doorway into the office.
He could see she was startled. "Sorry, I'm your nine o'clock or more aptly you're nine fifteen. Your receptionist cautioned me to wait." he smiled looking at the clock. He held out a hand offering her a take out cup. "Coffee?"
"How?" she began to ask but before she could finish he spoke.
"You were running late and I know Ms. Thompson fancies tea but you obviously are more of a coffee person."
"How did you know that?" she asked quite confused by the man before her. Obviously he was dealing with narcissism perhaps even delusions.
He could see her discomfort and decided against his usually explanation of deduction. "A lucky guess."
She took the cup from him and smiled. "Thank you. Please have a seat. I apoogize for not being better prepared this morning. I am sure your time is valauble and I meant no disrespect." she said grabbing a pencil, the file, and the coffee. He had definitely won points wih the coffee.
"I'm not sure what you have discussed with Ella since I have not read your file, so why don't we start with whatever you'd like." said Erna. She realized as she waited for him to speak that she had failed to introduce herself.
"No need." he interjected as she took a breath to speak. "Since you are filling in for your friend there is no need for introduction." he said.
She looked at him carefully. He did the same to her.
"So you'd like to start there? After all, this isn't about me" she said.
He felt the urge to rattle off ever reason this was all about her from her childhood issues to running to London to escape her fear of never measuring up as was evident by her jewelry and penmanship. Something within him told him to stay quiet. He wasn't used to obeying that voice. She could see the perplexed look on his face as if he wanted to speak.
"Do you have something to say?" she asked.
"Yes." he said feeling a relief he got a word out.
She waited in silence. She glanced down at her file searching for a name to address him by.
"Mr. Holmes." she said looking back up at him.
"You have no idea who I am, do you?" he said slightly amused.
She felt a bit ashamed."As I said, I did not have a chance to read your file. I'm afraid I'm a bit unprepared. "
"I think you're more prepared than Ms. Thompson." he said smiling. A tone rang out in the quiet room. "So sorry." he said pulling his phone from his pocket and standing.
She looked at him perturbed.
He paced at the back listening, "I'll be right there." he said placing the phone back in his pocket. "I do apologoze, I must be off."
"Excuse me, Mr. Holmes. Cell phones are not permitted." she said.
"Noted. I will see you next week." he said hurrying from the room. "A pleasure, Ms. Halbeck. Welcome to London." he said nodding as he left. Erna sat in her chair, file in her lap, coffee in hand.
'Well,' she thought, 'I got a coffee at least.'