Here is another chapter for those who ship St. Berry. I admit this was very hard for me to write but I finally got it done. Enjoy and please leave a review. They make me very happy!
Chapter 3
Rachel wiped the steam from the mirror from her mid-morning shower. She stared at her reflection. She grimaced at the faint dark circles underneath her eyes. She gave a sigh of frustration. She had tossed and turned all night, only drifting off to sleep thirty minutes before her alarm went off. She felt trepidation and excitement brewing in the pit of her stomach. Today was the day she would see Jesse. Face to face after seven years. She wondered briefly if he had found a significant other like she has.
She was surprised at the feeling of jealousy that briefly flared up at the thought. So what if he had? She was marrying Finn. At the thought of her fiancé she quickly went into the bedroom. Picking up her cell phone, she quickly dialed his number. It rang four times before going to voicemail. "Hey sweetie. I was calling to let you know that I'm okay and that I miss you." She paused. "And Finn I know that this isn't easy for you. But I wanted to let you know that I really do appreciate this. Thanks for the trust that you have in me. I'll call you later. I love you." She hung up the phone. She knows she should've felt better after placing the call but she didn't.
She couldn't help the feeling of guilt that seemed to be in the pit of her stomach. You're doing the right thing she silently told herself firmly. She dismissed the feeling and quickly started getting ready. An hour and a half later she stared at her reflection. A genuine smile graced her face at the result. The aquamarine halter dress set off her café au lait complexion perfectly. The two carat diamond studs Finn had given her last year for their anniversary sparkled in her ears. Her dark brown hair fell in soft waves, framing her face, to her shoulders. The dark brown eyeliner emphasized the shape of her almond like eyes, giving them a smoky look. The mascara made her eyelashes appear longer. The berry colored lipstick made her lips appear fuller. The light gold lame clutch and flats were the perfect complement to the dress. She knew she looked good. She glanced at her light gold wristwatch. It read ten thirty. "Okay. Its show time", she said, determination in her voice. She quickly took a look around to make sure she wasn't forgetting anything before leaving the room.
She could feel the eyes burning into her as she crossed the lobby of the hotel. One man even emitted a low whistle of approval. She fought the blush that threatened come to her cheeks. She lifted her head and squared her shoulders, her confidence soaring. She went outside to hail a cab. One came almost immediately. She opened the door and got in. "Where to miss?" the driver said with a hint of an Italian accent. She opened her clutch to extract the document. "I would like to go here", she said handing him the document. He nodded. She sat back into the seat, getting lost in her thoughts. While a part of her was nervous, a large part of her was excited.
"How long have you been married?" the driver asked, interrupting her thoughts. Rachel was startled at his question. "Excuse me?" she asked confused. "I'm sorry", he said ruefully. "I didn't mean to pry. It's just that I noticed the ring." "Its okay" she said with a smile. "I'm engaged." He smiled back at her. "Yeah. I remember when I popped the question to my Isabelle. I was so nervous. But she accepted and we've been inseparable ever since." "How long have you two been together?" she asked. "28 years" he said proudly. "We were high school sweethearts." "Oh, how sweet" she said. "Well were here" he said slowing down in front of a tall glass and steel building. Rachel opened the clutch to extract a couple of twenties. "Thank you" she said, handing him the money. "You're welcome. And good luck on your engagement. Your fiancé is a very lucky man" he said with a smile.
She blushed and thanked him again, getting out of the cab. She stood in front of the building, fighting a sudden case of nerves. "You can do this Rachel" she murmured to herself. Straightening her shoulders and lifting her shoulders, she strode into the building, her show face firmly in place. She stopped in the large marble lobby to look at the directory. She ran a finger down the listings. Then she froze. Cressida Production Company. She had heard of that name somewhere before. She tried to think of where she had heard it before, but the memory was vague and fuzzy. Shaking her head, she crossed the lobby to the bank of elevators. It took a full minute before one arrived. She got in and pushed the button for the forty third floors.
She leaned against the back of the elevator patiently waiting until it reached her destination. She closed her eyes, trying to calm her racing nerves. The elevator emitted a soft chime. She straightened, pasting a confident smile on her face. The doors opened and she stepped out, her shoes sinking into the plush carpet in the hallway. She slowly walked down the hallway until she reached the glass door with the company's logo written on it. She silently took a deep breath before pushing the door open. The office was large and airy. The décor had a minimalist style. There were two sitting areas with black leather couches and glass end tables.
The carpet was an off white color. The wall had large frames of abstract paintings with red, white, and black strokes on them. The end tables had red vases of white flowers on them. In the center was a large black marble receptionist desk where a stunning red was currently sitting. Rachel walked up to the desk. "May I help you?" the woman asked politely with a hint of a British accent. "Yes. Is Jesse St. James available?" she asked politely. The woman's emerald green eyes silently assessed her. "Do you have an appointment?" she finally asked. "No I do not" she said. The woman raised an elegantly arched eyebrow at her. "Mr. St. James only sees people who have appointments" she informed her coolly. Rachel felt a bubble of frustration at the woman's insolent tone, but she kept her show face firmly in place. "Oh, but I think he will make an exception in my case", she said politely, but there was hint of frost in her tone.
Rachel could see the hint of irritation and coolness in the woman's eyes at her tone. The woman was about to respond but the phone rang. She picked it up, never breaking eye contact with her. "Cressida Productions" she said. She paused. "Yes, Mr. St. James the rest of your week has been cleared." Rachel felt her heart speed up at the mention of his name. "Oh but there is someone here to see you." Another pause. "No she does not have an appointment" she said, giving her a pointed look. Rachel fought the urge to grit her teeth. "But she said that you would make an exception in her case" the woman said with a slight smirk.
Another pause. "Okay" she said and put her hand over the receiver. "What is your name?" the woman asked coolly. "Rachel Berry" she said, her tone clipped. "She said her name was Rachel Berry" the woman informed him. There was another pause. Then a look of surprise and shock came over the woman's face so briefly that Rachel thought she must have imagined it. "Okay. I'll send her back there" she said, her tone losing its initial coolness. She hung up the phone. "He said he will see you" she said.
"Thank you" Rachel said with a hint of smugness in her voice. "Just go down the hallway and make a left. His office will be located on the right" the woman said with a hint of frost in her tone. Rachel turned and followed the woman's directions. All too soon she found herself in front of his office door. The door was a dark cherry oak with Jesse St. James, Producer in silver letters stenciled on it. "You can do this" she told herself silently and knocked on the door. "Come in" she heard him say. She quickly put on her show face and slowly opened the door.
He was standing with his back to her, gazing out of the bank of windows at the back of the office. It was pretty much decorated like the lobby with off white carpeting, a large cherry oak desk in the middle with two black recliners in front of it, and two large abstract paintings on the wall. He turned around and her breath caught in her throat. Time seem to stand still as they stared at one another. He looked handsome. Even more so than when she had seen him all those years ago. His hair was still that beautiful chestnut color with a stray curl falling over his forehead. He seemed taller. And more muscular then she remembered. His physique filled out the expensive black suit he was wearing quite nicely. His face was more defined, his cheekbones showing more clearly. But it was his eyes that she noticed most of all.
Those beautiful blue grey eyes that seemed to be assessing her the same way that she was assessing him. The air was wrought with electricity. Goose bumps suddenly erupted on her arms. She could feel the tension between them. Wrought with unspoken words and broken promises from the past. Nervousness suddenly erupted in her belly. She fought it off by subtly straightening her shoulders and lifting her head.
"Hello Jesse" she said, her voice ringing with a confidence she didn't feel.
"Rachel."