"Hey Natalia do you think we could have lunch?"
"Umm yep we can that. Do you want me to meet you and your mom at the beacon?"
"No, not with mom just you and me. I have something I want your help with"
"Oh already doing the step daughter thing of causing division between the parental units."
"Of course you didn't think that I was going to be the problem free kid did you?"
"Nope not considering you're a Spencer."
"And even worse I'm an O'Neil"
"Good thing your out of high school. I can foresee plenty parent teacher conferences coming up with Emma if she follow in yours or Olivia's footprints. So am I coming over there or you're coming by here?"
Noticing her mom walking into the room Ava replied, "No I think I think it would be best if I met you over there."
"Okay honey I will see you around 12?"
"Yep 12."
When she first headed to the room Olivia had regained the excitement and momentum from waking up yesterday morning imagining a future of running the Beacon side by side with her daughter. The front desk was run as well as could be expected of Jack and there didn't see to be any customer disasters looming in the lobby. The partnership papers had been delivered and walking back to her office she looked forward to the days when she and Ava worked hard on the wooing the next big client or out maneuvered the competition. Ever since Natalia resigned she had not actually looked forward to sitting down at her desk. Sure she still liked work and it was still fun at times but working with Natalia had been unlike any other work related experience. Not only did Natalia anticipate her needs she worked just as hard if not harder to make the Beacon a success. It would be wonderful to again have someone who equaled the commitment and dedication of the boss. "I hope that wasn't who I think it was."
"Just who do you think it was?"
"The woman whose name rhymes with ass hat."
"What would Natalia say if she heard that" Ava said trying not to laugh
"What Natalia doesn't know keeps me off the sofa. Don't change the subject. Was that her?"
"Her? Who ever do you mean mother? "
"Ava"
"No it wasn't jeez but what if it was?"
"You know what I came in here excited because the partnership papers were delivered so lets focus on that."
"Gimme" Ava grinned grabbing for the papers in her mother's hands.
"Wait" Olivia said putting the contracts behind her back. "Maybe we should have a party or something to commemorate it. We could hold a welcome party to introduce you to all our major clients and suppliers."
"Ummm like your welcoming your business family to your actual family?"
"Exactly this could be a major campaign all on its own especially with the holidays coming up."
"Okay admit it Mom you only asked me to join as a marketing ploy."
"Hey use whatever works. No this could really work. I knew this was a good idea. I'm going to get together a list of all the business that we normally work with and see if we can't come up with some themes for this party."
"This could actually work uh?"
"Baby this is going to more than work its going to explode" Olivia smiled thinking of endless possibilities as she walked behind her desk finally handing the papers to Ava.
"Knock knock"
"Blake hi"
"How is it going here? Has anyone told you that Spaulding was actually a gateway to hell?"
"Umm I can't say that was covered in the newcomers orientation."
"Don't say I didn't warn you. How is it working with Philip?"
"You worked with him before"
"Yeah well when I worked with him we took a lot of late night meetings sort of like you and Olivia."
"Blake!" Natalia shouted looking scandalized.
"Just kidding gosh."
"Are you here for some reason other than to embarrass me."
"Actually I was hoping we could have lunch."
"I'm popular today sorry I'm already have plans with Ava."
"Ava" Blake said with a frown.
"What"
"Nothing"
"Noo what's up"
"Has Olivia been weird or upset lately or talked about Doris lately?"
"No why? What's wrong?"
"Oh nothing I should go and let you get ready for lunch."
"Oh no you don't. what's going on with Olivia and Doris"
"It's nothing just sex"
"WHATTT" it looked as if her head would explode
"Nooo not olivia and Doris Doris and Ava"
"It must be genetic. That's it I'm locking Emma in the attic as soon as she reaches puberty."
"Do you want me to drop them off to the lawyer on me way to lunch?"
"You signed them already?" Olivia's eyebrow arching.
"Well yeah I thought that was sorta the point."
"Don't you want to someone to go over it with you?"
"You're my mom what are you gonna do?"
"I could ask for your first born" and as soon as the words were said she again wished her life came with an edit button. "Baby I'm sorry"
"Its okay"
"No no its not. Ava I don't know why I would say something like that"
"We never talk about him. Sometimes I feel like it was all some bad dream. I wanted to get pregnant so bad and then I had him and the next day I was gone. I never even" and she started to sob and shake dropping down in the seat. Her mother rocking her and holding her tight. "I never even held him. What kind of mother leaves the city without even holding her son."
"Baby you were sick. You were sick." Olivia said wanting more than anything to take the pain from her daughter. This was the first time that they had cried over him. Her beautiful grandson had died almost a year ago and they had never cried over his loss. Ava's eyes bored into her while she was telling her about his final moments. Olivia kept talking trying to explain trying to temper the pain by relating only the necessary but Ava demanded the entire unabridged version. When she was finished Ava got up and walked away. She had never brought him up again and although she knew that it needed talking out and through she wanted to avoid it as well. When she lost Max he took with him the possibility to glimpse at child she gave away. "I'm sorry we never talked about him its okay to miss him. I miss him too every time I see a little boy that's around the age he would have been."
"I miss him so much mom. So much."
"It had better not be genetic of else Emma going to the convent." Natalia said after hearing the story.
"I don't think it would work she'd just seduce the priests and alter boys. Maybe even a few nuns" Blake laughed.
"So not helping" Natalia said as she slapped Blake's arm.
"Hey"
"Now what are we going to do? Olivia is going to kill Doris. I'm surprised she hasn't hatched some plan already."
"That's why I'm here. I want you to get Olivia to see that this is just a misunderstanding"
"What?? She slept with Ava".
"Okay so it wasn't her best move"
"Yah think" Natalia smirked.
"Hey Doris has been a good friend to Olivia especially after you ran away. Doris was the one person that kept her from going further off the deep end."
"Listen I'm sure"
"No you listen Natalia Doris and Olivia are best friends whether they want to admit it or not they need each other. You can't just let this friendship tank."
"Why do you even care? Your not that close to Olivia and your not close to Doris."
"I just do okay. Doris has been a major supporter of your's and Olivia's for a long time."
"Yeah after she outed us before there was even an us."
"Hey"
"Okay okay fine. I'll see what I can do"
"Nat"
"Okay Blake I will see what I can do. I promise."