Title: Bailero (4/?)

Pairing: Callie / Arizona

Rating: NC17 / M / Explicit Adult Content

Summary: Dr Arizona Robbins is close to desperate; she needs a business analyst to help manage her tiny biomedical company before the bank takes everything she's ever worked for. The one person that seems capable of taking control is Callie Torres. But is Callie interested in taking control of more than just Arizona's finances?

Disclaimer: The recognisable characters portrayed in this story belong to ABC Studio & Shonda Rhimes etc. No infringement intended etc etc. No profit being made etc etc etc. You know the drill.

A/N Thanks so much for the reviews and interest.

Chapter 4

Arizona blinked a few times as she exited her offices on Gower Street and made for Euston Square tube. The night was brisk and wet and windy, umbrella's and raincoats savaged by the inclement weather but all she could feel was the electricity of the night zipping through her like so many bolts of lightening. The pavement shone with the reflected street lights in the puddles and despite the lateness of the hour, the ubiquitous student population competed with the noise of the traffic with their conversation and antics. As the wind whipped her hair across her face, Arizona resisted the urge to laugh out loud or grab hold of the nearest girl or boy and waltz them wildly down the street and back again. She knew that she should hold fast to her enthusiasm, she knew that nothing was certain or set in stone. But she couldn't help but believe. She couldn't help but hope. The last 4 hours spent with Ms Calliope Torres had reawakened something within her. For the first time, in ever such a long time, Arizona could sense, just about within her grasp, real light at the end of the tunnel. As much as she stalled on actually offering the job and as perplexed as she was with what Calliope had stipulated as her salary requirements, Arizona knew, deep within her, that this woman was the one who could save her. Save her business, help her realise her dreams. It was almost as if the last 4 years had been wiped away and everything was fresh and bright and new. For the first time in months, an idea about another application had occurred to her and the speed with which she had typed down her ideas had nearly burnt off her fingertips. It was as if something in her brain shifted and loosened and allowed her to focus on her real love; the science. She understood the psychology of what had happened, it was simple enough, her brain had decided that there was someone else who could now be trusted to manage the business aspect of things and thus was free to concentrate solely on the science.

The 20 minute tube ride to Hampstead disappeared in a flash and fumbling with her Oyster card, Arizona considered where her brain was taking her. There was no doubt that Callie, as she liked to call herself, would be brilliant managing the business. Logically, she knew that the proof of the pudding was in the eating and that Callie might just be able to talk a good talk. But Arizona, loathe to trust anything as intangible as instinct, knew that the woman was solid gold, or something infinitely more precious, considering the way gold share prices had recently plummeted. She also knew that this feeling, of relief, of something that felt so close to what she remembered happiness to be, was misplaced. She knew not to trust her instincts; Arizona had learnt the hard way to take nothing at face value and to examine and re-examine everything with a jaundiced eye. She crossed Hampstead High Street towards Flask Walk and continued the 10 minute stroll towards her home. It was a Thursday night but despite the hour and the weather, she could see into the intimate little restaurants and pubs, that lined the main road, people, friends, couples laughing and talking and living.

I want that for me. I want that again.

The thought came unbidden and went away just as quickly, untouched and ignored.

She instead focused on what was important to her.

Back and forth, forth and back.

Her heart wanted to trust in her new business manager. Her brain asked if she was crazy.

Heart replied that if she didn't spend so much looking over everyone's shoulder, including her own, she'd have more time for the science. Pithily, Brain came back with the irrefutable fact that had she not taken her eye off the ball the first time round, she'd not be in the mess that she was right now; had she learnt nothing? Heart, defeated and bruised, conceded to Brain's superior judgement.

Arizona couldn't afford to trust in anyone other than herself. And Martha.

###

At the CalTech AGM held at the New York offices last week, investors were treated to a surprise presentation from their notoriously elusive CEO; Callie T Rodrigo. The darling of the financial world spoke passionately about encouraging and supporting small enterprise and made some very pointed remarks, clearly aimed at the Treasury and Secretary Geithner on what she saw as their lack of foresight, when it came to tax breaks for SME's and the manufacturing sector. It's thought that her unexpected presence was to allay stockholders fears that she was stepping down as CEO in favour of her current MD, Mark Sloan. Ms Rodrigo, rarely seen in public, has diversified considerably in recent years; pulling back from ruthless acquisition and asset building ...

Callie stopped reading and swiped through her phone until she found the relevant number. A quick look at her watched confirmed that it was still only 19:30 in New York and it was unlikely that Sloan was at dinner yet.

"Torres, shouldn't you be in bed?" Mark's voice rang out clearly.

"Why am I looking at a picture of myself in the WSJ?" Callie ignored his greeting and squinted at the picture of herself. The on-line edition had bright, high-definition colours; she had been leaning forward, one hand buried in her hair, probably attempting to push it out of her, mainly obscured, face. The glint of her silver rings and bracelet was bright against the darkness of her hair.

"Aww, c'mon, you can't even see your face and that was a good article. Sympathetic. We got a couple of share point bumps off the back of that." Mark wheedled.

"We did?" Callie was distracted. But only for a moment.

"Mark, I don't want my picture in the papers or on-line or ..."

"I know. I do know and you know that we do all we can but... it was a public meeting. And just about everyone on the planet has a camera phone. You know the deal, Callie."

Callie remained silent, still looking at the picture.

"You still looking at the picture?" he guessed, she could her the smile in his voice.

"Uhuh."

"Don't be so grumpy, your hair totally covers your face and they only got like a half a wrist and maybe your arm as well. Your identity is still safe."

"Yeah but anyone who knows me will know that it's me," Callie complained.

"Cal, you're being ridiculous and you know it. Apart from anything else,you keep this up and people will start to figure out that you're actively camera-shy and then you'll really have the paparazzi on your hands, offering millions for a picture of you and then you won't be able to go out of the house for dinner and movie and you'll become a recluse like Howard Hughes and then you'll never get laid." Mark drew a breath.

Callie laughed, like she knew she was meant to. Mark was right, she was being a little over the top but she really didn't want the hassle or the publicity. Aria thrived on that shit but her? Not so much.

"How're things working out for you anyway?"

"What, the interview? I nailed it." Callie responded proudly. "Actually, that's not exactly true, I had to do a major league charm offensive," she corrected, thinking about the evening.

"What do you care? You could have gone on to one of the other places if London was too dumb to recognise your talent."

"Perhaps, but I wanted the London job. I wanted this one." Callie repeated thoughtfully. She had wanted it and she wanted it even more once she got to meet the owner. Callie had a mental image of thoughtful blue eyes and a small smile.

"Anyway, that's not what I was asking about," Mark broke into her thoughts. "I was asking whether you got laid yet."

Long blonde hair, blue eyes and a very slender figure popped into her head again for all of half a second at Mark's question. She dismissed the thought before it had a chance to settle.

"Jeez, Mark. I've been in London for all of 5 minutes. Even if I had the inclination, where the hell would I find the time?"

"For getting laid? There's always time for that, Torres and if you need to be told, then I'm seriously worried about your ladybits. They will wither and die you know ..."

"Sloan, you're a pig." Laughing, Callie hung up on her friend before he launched into one of his crass spiels about her sex life.

Callie ran her hands through her hair and wandered about her apartment for a moment, her bare feet almost noiseless against the polished wooden floors. It was past midnight and even though her jet lag had pretty much worn off, she knew she was too wired to sleep. Her mind was buzzing and making a quick decision, she grabbed an energy drink from her fridge and padded over to her study. She might as well start working on some of the ideas she'd had with Arizona; they had a lot of work do.

###

Arizona placed the barely touched glass of wine on the edge of the bath tub and leaned all the way back, immersing herself in the near scalding water. The bubbles were large and full and fluffy, filling the warm air with the scent of magnolia and rose petals. In the background playing softly was one of her favourite Celso Fonseca albums. She sighed and closed her eyes, the tension just melting off her.

Today was not what she had expected.

In truth, she'd not given today much thought and was honest enough to admit that at the start of the day, had barely given the upcoming interview with Ms Calliope Torres even a moments thought. Everything within her being had been taken up by the thought that her beloved home was now solely in the hands of the bank and that Benjamin Grant had given her a thinly veiled ultimatum. That she would spend the latter hours of the day in her office developing ideas was something she could have barely conceived. Under any other circumstance, she would have been ashamed of her behaviour during the interview; she'd hardly made eye contact with her tall dark compatriot, scarcely acknowledging her presence, let alone pay any attention to the interview.

Her meeting with Benjamin Grant kept re-playing in her mind, kept her wondering if she could have handled matters differently. Callie Torres had said something; Arizona couldn't recall what it was but it had brought her back to the present. Casting her eye over the impressive resume, she had noted how many different contracts the other woman had worked on in such a short space of time. The question had been legitimate but Arizona had been more interested in how Ms Torres responded to her … than in the actual reply. But the woman had surprised her.

"Take a breath, Robbins. Just breathe."

She said the words softly but out loud because she knew herself too well.

She was getting excited.

Calliope Torres, at least on the face of it, was pure gold. If she wanted to be literal about things, what she should be saying was that Callie was pure rhodium and Arizona couldn't help getting awfully excited. Things could possibly … possibly be on the turn. She didn't believe in luck but if she did, Arizona knew she was damn well due for some of the good stuff for a change.

If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

It was one of her mother's favourite phrases and Arizona repeated it out, using her big toe to adjust the flow of hot water.

Was Callie Torres too good to be true? Right now, though it was out of character for her, Arizona decided not to pursue that line of questioning. There was little to be gained by second-guessing herself and everything to be lost. Callie Torres was going to be the breath of fresh air that blew away all her cobwebs, Arizona decided.

She screwed up her nose. She preferred Calliope and presumptuous though she knew it was, Arizona decided that as much as possible, she would use the woman's full, beautiful name instead. It suited her.

###

Arizona came out of the lift on her floor, her mind already deeply engrossed in her plans for the day. Despite her posturing last night, she knew that her first order of business was to contact Calliope Torres and offer her the job. Whether the company would be able to afford her was another matter entirely her cryptic note notwithstanding. Arizona almost believed that the other woman was sincere about wanting to work for her. As much as she tried to shake off the enthusiasm of last night and keep herself grounded, Arizona couldn't help but feel that a massive weight had been lifted from her shoulders. True, she was now officially hocked up to the gills, the title deed of her home now ensconced as collateral against her loan to the bank but she had 4 months breathing space to get more secure financing and if Calliope was even a third as good as she seemed to be, there was every chance that things could really turn around.

As she approached the glass fronted doors to the lobby area, Arizona was surprised to see the lights already on. It was still only 07:00 and Martha wasn't due in for another couple of hours. She pushed the door open slowly and looked over the front desk, knowing that their part time receptionist was never going be in at this hour.

She felt her eyebrows rise as she stared at the shapely rear end of a woman as it emerged from under the counter. There was no way on earth that what she was looking at belonged to her long-time assistant. If it turned out that those nicely toned gluts belong to Martha, Arizona was going to eat her satchel. Blinking at the inappropriate turn her thoughts were taking her, Arizona cleared her throat loudly and winced as, predictably, the woman under the desk banged her head at the sound.

Smiling a little guiltily, Arizona watched as Callie scrambled out from under the desk, a little flushed, her dark wavy hair falling into her face.

"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to startle you," Arizona apologised, partly amused and more than a little curious at the woman's presence. She pondered on the fact that she wasn't incrediblycurious at her presence, instinctively feeling that the dark haired woman wasn't leaving anything to chance with regard to the job. Callie pushed her hair out of her face, the silver rings and heavy bracelet glinting in the darkness of her hair. She did, at least, have the grace to look mildly embarrassed.

"Umm. Hey …Good … ummm … Good Morning. You're in early…." Callie stammered and Arizona merely raised her eyebrows without responding. She couldn't stop a small smile coming to her lips as Callie flushed slightly, the delicate colour coming quickly to her face. She straightened her dress and shifted her weight from one immaculately shod foot to the other.

"I … er….. well…. Martha said that you tend to go to the lab first thing in the mornings, so I was thinking that I could perhaps …. ummm … get a head start on some of the work we've got lined up." She was still fiddling with her hair and Arizona got the distinct impression that it was unusual for the woman to be so awkward. It made her smile widen just a little and Callie flushed a little more.

"I was just looking at the printer connections because my wireless connections doesn't appear to be working and I figured it would save Martha or whoever does your IT if I just did it myself…." She trailed off and looked about the empty lobby.

"Really?" Arizona couldn't help teasing a little.

"Oh …. I mean if you ummm actually offer me the post ….." This time she met Arizona's gaze head on, even if she couldn't stop the rise of heat to her face.

Arizona raised an eyebrow.

"OK, so I'm busted. I came here to hustle you, in case you were still debating on whether to hire me or not." Callie grinned, only marginally repentant.

Unable to help herself, Arizona laughed out loud.

"I guess I should be pleased that you're at least pretending like there's any real debate on that point." She placed her bags down on the desk and held her hand out to Callie.

"Calliope, I'd love to offer you the post of executive business manager with us at RM Biomedical." Arizona smiled again, this time at the wide beam and firm clasp she received from Callie at her offer. The hand in hers was larger, warm and strong and she shivered a little at the touch.

Arizona looked round suddenly, realising that they were the only 2 people in the office.

"How did you even get in here? I know Martha didn't give you a key last night."

Callie blinked rapidly and gestured vaguely to the outer lobby.

"Oh, I errr, I told the security guard that I'd just been hired and wanted to get in early to help out with ... you know ... stuff."

Arizona blinked at the woman's audacity and then allowed her smile to gentle at the blush Callie was sporting.

"Oh really?"

"Arizona, I know I'm pushy and brash but I promise, you won't regret this." Callie had a grin as wide as the Nile and Arizona felt another frisson at the fact that her words had brought such a beautiful smile to the other woman's face. She slowly let go of the hand she had been holding, vaguely aware that a professional handshake didn't last a full 5 minutes.

Callie didn't seem to notice the extended contact and just grinned happily. "Like they say in the movies, I think this could be the start of a beautiful relationship."

Arizona laughed at the comment, relieved that her morning was turning out so well.

###

"No. Absolutely not. That just won't work for me." Arizona's words were firm, her chin jutted out and her jaw was clenched.

They'd barely been in the office an hour before a difference of opinion began to percolate into a battle of wills.

Callie drew a breath and moistened her lips, trying hard not to grind her teeth.

She was a little spoilt, she was well aware of that fact; totally accustomed to getting her own way, especially when it came to business matters. She was also used to controlling thousands of staff and juggling a budget that some small nations would kill to posses. She didn't like taking orders from anyone. Not from people who didn't understand the business world or financial markets and certainly not from beautiful and highly educated but obstinate scientists.

"Arizona, it is impractical and a waste of your time for me to run every decision by you. You need to allow me some autonomy or I can't do my job." Callie was equally firm. She also hated to lose an argument especially when she was right.

"So, make it work, Calliope. That's what what you're good at, right; making things work? Make this work for me." Arizona flicked her hair to one side and offered a hard, cold smile; she wasn't budging one single inch.

"What you're asking for doesn't even make sense ..." Callie tried to reason with her but Arizona shook her head, her chin jutting out just that little bit more and her long blonde hair spilling out over her shoulders.

"I made it clear that I intend to be fully involved in the business side of things, I'm not just going to give up control because you think it's a good idea. We are not doing that and I'm not debating it with you." Arizona's back was straight, her hands clasped firmly in front of her and Callie slowly leaned back in her leather chair and considered her new boss carefully. The blue eyes had hardened to flinty crystal, they were narrowed and pretty damn cold.

She really wasn't kidding.

"O-Kay then," Callie drawled out calmly, taking another breath and tried to negotiate a better settlement. "In practical terms, how do you see this working?"

Arizona blinked at the sudden volte face, she had been fully expecting Callie to drag the argument out.

"Just bring the decisions to me and we can discuss them," she offered a gentle, small smile in mitigation. "Look, Calliope, I know this is your deal, you're the expert but I need to be involved, in everything, all the time."

"In everything? All the time?" Callie repeated slowly.

"Yes." The response from the blonde was emphatic.

"Really? You're sure that's what you want?" Callie asked carefully. She knew it was a loaded question but Arizona walked straight into it, oblivious to what she had just signed herself up for.

"Yes, Calliope, that's exactly what I want." Arizona nodded happily, seeming not to notice the predatory glint that came to Callie's eyes.

"Well then, Dr Robbins, your wish is my command." Callie drawled mockingly, wondering how long Arizona would last.

"Good. I'm really glad we can see eye to eye on this." Arizona grinned, relieved not to have a massive fight on her hands in their very first week. In the back of her mind, there was a little voice that told her Callie had given up mighty quickly, but she ignored it in favour of having one less problem to worry about.

Callie took in Arizona's satisfaction with a very small smile; she hadn't got to be this successful by backing down at the first hurdle but for now she'd let Arizona win this round. It was kind of charming to see how animated and happy the blonde scientist could get at the thought that she had asserted herself.

Huh. She has dimples. And they're pretty. How did that get by me?

Callie blinked a little at the stupidity of her thought and then went back to the next item on her agenda.

"So, Benjamin Grant and then I want to tackle your loan with this tiny bank of yours. I'd like the details so that I can get on top of that ASAP."

###

By the time their meeting finished, Arizona was running late for a lecture and Callie could feel the adrenaline speeding through her veins.

This, right here, was exactly what she was looking for.

Dr Arizona Robbins and RM Biomedical was a bona fide golden find. Sure, it was going to be a massive challenge, the financial aspects of business were in a dire state but the science, the potential applications, it blew Callie away. Had the circumstances been different, she would have invested in the company with her personal wealth, she was that convinced that Arizona's development would set the world on fire. But she would content herself, at least for now, with ensuring that she got enough quality investors to keep the ship afloat.

She looked over at the good doctor as they gathered up their various notes and things. Arizona was going to a completely different challenge. She was, undoubtedly, brilliant. That she was stubborn, opinionated and argumentative was also, without doubt. Callie grinned slightly, they'd already had a couple of skirmishes and Callie knew that them arguing over the direction of the business wasn't going to end anytime soon. Her grin broadened.

Bring it.

Almost as if she knew what was going through Callie's head, Arizona looked up at her and twirled a folded sheet of paper in her slender fingers.

"You haven't explained what you meant by this." It was the note that Callie had written the evening before stipulating her salary requirements.

Callie shrugged.

"Didn't think there was anything to explain," she responded blithely but she watched Arizona's face carefully.

Arizona unfolded the sheet and read it again.

"It says that you'll accept a salary of 1 jumbo bag of Skittles each calendar month but under a single condition. What exactly is this condition, Calliope?" Arizona's demeanour changed again, became a little more closed, a little harder and Callie knew that her hunch that this would be a tough sell was spot on. Her new business partner had lost the alluring little twinkle in her eye and had become a little more withdrawn. All this within a blink of an eye. Temperamental.

"I'd like a 20% stake in the business," Callie replied.

Arizona looked at her without expression.

"This company of yours is going to explode in major way, it's going to be a game-changer, Arizona and you know it. You know what you've done here will re-define the way oncology and cardio - thoracic medicine is practiced globally, you ..."

"Stop blowing air up my skirt and cut to the chase." Arizona bit out. She hadn't moved a muscle but her eyes seemed a shade brighter and a whole lot colder.

Despite the tension and the crystalline stare she was under, Callie felt a tiny smile come to her face at Arizona's words; she hadn't been flattering the woman, she had been stating some undeniable truths but she got that Arizona maybe didn't handle praise all that well.

"To raise the level of funds that we need to get this done right, you need to go public. I want a piece of that very, very special pie."

"Absolutely not." Arizona was nothing if not unequivocal.

"No to ... what? Going public or me having a stake in the company?" Callie asked, leaning back in her chair, watching closely.

Arizona just shook her head, her blonde hair flying around her face, her jaw tight.

"I thought that might be your initial response but do you want to, maybe... tell me why?"

She watched as Arizona pushed a hand through her hair and turn away, her eyes flitting about the room, as if searching for answers. Callie knew that the blonde was playing for time. She also knew absolutely why Arizona didn't want to go public.

"I'm not giving up any of this." She gestured around the office, indicating her business. Her face was etched with almost grim determination and Callie chewed on her lip, watching closely. She was kind of surprised that Arizona hadn't prevaricated, she come out with the truth.

"I've worked too hard and for too long, just to let some guy in a suit, some ...some ... faceless boardroom suddenly take over. I won't do it. I will not."

Callie nodded thoughtfully. Control. It's all about control.

"Ok, that's fine, I understand, you don't want a board to take fullcontrol but what you do want is to not die eighty years from now regretting that you didn't do everything to get your invention to the people and the children that need it the most. You do want people to benefit from this, right? I mean, I figured that you invented it for a reason, not just because you were a little bored these last 10 years?" Callie didn't wait for Arizona's response but pressed her advantage.

"Let's be clear. You don't have to give up everything, you don't have to cede all of your authority or rights and we can work it out so that you always have a controlling share in the company but if you don't do this, you might as well go home and take up knitting because without raising a shedload of money and I mean mega ... mega bucks ... this thing you got going on here, well, it won't ever see the light of day."

Callie leaned forward and watched Arizona's face. There was a faint crease between her eyebrows and grooves had formed, bracketing her mouth. Her full pink lips were pulled into a straight line and for a second she almost looked haunted. Hunted. But for a second, Callie blinked and the expression was gone, perhaps it was mere fancy.

She waited and watched as Arizona rose from her chair and walked across the office to stare out of the double-glazed window, her eyes staring out to the city below. Callie doubted that she was looking at anything at all.

"Of course I want this ... I want for the compound to be made available, readily and cheaply available ..." Arizona's words tailed off and she leaned her forehead against the window pane.

Callie felt an inexplicable desire to offer comfort, to walk over and do ... something. She had no idea where the compulsion came from; she really wasn't the nurturing type, but Arizona looked like she could have used a hug right about now.

Since when did you develop a Mary Poppins complex? Or do I mean Florence Nightingale? Callie forced herself to stay put. It looked like Arizona was processing ... or something and she didn't want to interrupt her flow.

"I never told you why I started all this, why I left academia, did I?" Arizona spoke after a moment, her voice low.

"Umm, I guess not."

"Apathy. I was sick to death of the apathy, things needed to be done, research and development grants were going to the good old boys, who played golf and played it safe when we were on the verge of cutting edge innovation." She swung round to pin Callie with a hard stare.

"Every dime available for R&D was going to prostate cancer research and cures for male pattern baldness and frigging male impotency wonder drugs. No one gives a damn about children or the access to affordable healthcare in the developing world. There's no profit in it." Arizona's words bit out harshly, her eyes bright and piercing. "We ... I had got so close, so many times to a major break through and couldn't ever get financial backing. So I decided to put up or shut up. Sunk my own funds into research and development because no one else would. I'm not about to hand everything over to people who wouldn't give me the time of day before." She stopped and looked back out of the window, London was damp and grey but there was a hint of blue trying to break through the clouds.

Arizona remained silent for a few more minutes and Callie watched without comment.

"I must seem pretty strange to you, mustn't I? I mean, I'm super-paranoid, I won't let you take notes, I don't want to relinquish a single bit of control…." She swung round to look at Callie, her face pale but with blotches of hectic colour staining each cheek.

"Are you sure this is what you want? To work with someone as temperamental as me? You've only been here a few hours, we can call it quits right now if you prefer?"

There was both defiance and vulnerability in her challenge, her eyes bright and hard.

Callie shook her head slightly.

"Is that what you want, Dr Robbins?"

Arizona chuckled without humour.

"What I want is not quite within reach, Calliope. Can you deal with me ….? With my ….?" Arizona waved a hand in the air, indicating her emotions.

She didn't wait for an answer but moved quickly back to her seat behind her large mahogany desk.

"You don't need to answer that." Her face smoothed out into her professional mask, her tight and perfect smile pinned into place, nothing dimming the bight hardness in her eyes.

"I apologise, that little outburst was …. less than professional of me. That wasn't what you signed up for and it won't happen again." She flicked her hair away from her face. "That's if you decide to stay, of course."

Callie folded her hands in her lap and considered the other woman for a second.

She had been surprised by Arizona's outburst and figured that even if the scientist had managed to put a lid on it for now, there was so much more bubbling under the surface. Callie might relish a challenge but did she really want to work with someone so temperamental?

"I want this job, Arizona," Callie replied quickly. She was tempted to look away from that bright hard stare but she forced herself to maintain eye contact and even leaned forward a wasn't poker and for once Callie released the tight grip she kept on her emotions; Arizona was totally exposed right now and rather than moving in for the kill, Callie let her own vulnerability show.

"I want it badly, more than I think I can actually explain to you. More than it even makes sense. There's something here that …. I … I just have to be a part of."

She had known from the minute Sloan had made his dismissive comment about Arizona's company that everything would change. She didn't know why or how but her decision to come to London and work here had been made on an instinctual level, it was almost fatalistic and for once in her career, in her life almost, she was just going to go with it.

"Ok. Ok, then." Arizona nodded her head once and pulled in her lips, perhaps to hide their tremble, Callie couldn't be certain.

"Arizona, going public is not only a no-brainer, it's a necessity." Callie put her game face back on, now they were both all about the business, the flash of shared empathy gone but not forgotten.

She leaned over the desk, exactly as she had done during her interview, breaking down the distance and barriers between them. Game face or not, she was imploring.

"It's a deal-breaker, Arizona. It's the only way we can do this." Callie looked into Arizona's blue eyes and made sure that Arizona understood her and then sat back in her chair.

"And I suppose the only way I'll ever afford you is to give up some of my rights to the company?"

Callie blinked. Arizona seemed determined to view this in the most negative light imaginable.

"No. I work for you in exchange for the privilege of being able to invest in your PLC. In real terms that equates to over £110,000 investment for about 9 months work."

Arizona's eyebrows went skyward.

"How …. much…..?" Her voice faltered and she cleared her throat to start again.

"How much were you expecting to get paid, exactly?"

Callie had researched what type of pay her skills could get her in the open market and then rounded down by a good 40%.

"Conservatively, I'd attract a salary of ￡180K per annum." She watched the other woman pale slightly and then swallow hard.

"Stirling?" Arizona's voice was a little hoarse.

"Brilliance don't come cheap, Arizona."

Callie waited.

Arizona sighed.

Callie forced herself to remain still and keep quiet. Anything else right now was just unnecessary pressure. Arizona needed to come to the same conclusion as she had.

After a beat, Arizona resolved some internal debate.

"Looks like we have a deal, Calliope."

TBC