Disclaimer: Of course I didn't create these characters, but I like to borrow them.


Jill stood nervously on the outside of the door. She spent ten hours a day with the woman on the inside of the apartment, and really did not like the idea of seeing her after hours. I'm just going to drop off the file, apologize for not being able to find it earlier and leave. She told herself in order to muster up the courage to knock on the door. It's not like she's going to invite me in or anything. God I hope she doesn't invite me in. I'll just tell her I have plans and really can't stay. Jill couldn't really explain why her dislike for her boss was so strong. Yes she was a bitch, and she was mean, and she didn't care about anyone but herself and her own career. But she did not-so-mean things occasionally and there had to be some people who liked her. That brought to mind one particular person who seemed to like Denise and Jill had to clench her eyes closed tightly to force that thought out of her head.

Jill was pulled from her musings when the door was suddenly opened by a smiling Denise wearing a long silk robe.

Is she really smiling? "I have plans." Jill blurted out.

"I don't care." Denise informed her. "They aren't here, so what do you want?" If she was actually smiling before, she's not now.

"Sorry, I mean, here's the Roberts file. It was misfiled and since you were looking for it all day I thought I would drop it by in case you needed it." Jill rambled while she fidgeted with the file in her hands.

"You could have just left it on my desk."

Yeah, and you could just say thanks and let me be on my way. "Well you were on my way so I thought I'd drop it by." As Jill stood in the hall the sound of a piano wafted out of the apartment. "I didn't know you played the piano?"

"I don't. As you can see, I'm standing here talking to you." Denise answered sarcastically

Okay, that's why I don't like you. "That is a piano isn't it?" She couldn't stop herself from asking.

"Yes, it was a Christmas gift."

Confused, the lawyer in Jill just had to follow up, "but you don't play."

"I didn't get it, I gave it."

"Wait. You don't play the piano so you bought one for someone else and keep it at your apartment?" Jill knew this line of questioning was going to leave her sick to her stomach but she just couldn't stop herself.

"Not that it is any of your business. But, I have a friend who recently told me she missed having a piano around. So I bought her one, but her apartment is way too small so I keep it here and that way we can both enjoy it."

Why didn't I just drop the file and go? "Well she's good."

"Yes, she is. Very good." Denise fought a smile at the visible cringe that statement caused in Jill. "I'd invite you in to listen but as you said you have plans. And it really is a private concert." She added, a little too suggestively for Jill's liking.

"Yeah, well here's the file." Jill said hurriedly as she handed over the file and started away down the hall.

"Thanks." Denise just couldn't resist one last parting shot. "Besides I hear you had your own concert last week at the Washburn's Christmas party."

Jill paused in her movement as a shudder raced through her body. And not the good kind either, but the bad 'I'm going to have nightmares' kind.


Okay Nofret, it's your turn.