Here's chapter 12. I wanted to post this earlier but life got in the way.

Thanks again for the alerts and reviews...I love knowing that people are reading. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything...unfortunately.

Oh, one more thing...please don't hate me after this chapter. Please?

CHAPTER TWELVE

Kurt woke up super early on the morning of his meeting with Ms. Spencer. He wasn't scheduled to be in the office until 10am but when his eyes popped open at 4:30am he knew not to even bother trying to go back to sleep. So instead, he got up and made some coffee and sat down to read the paper. Kurt didn't need to stress about his outfit. He'd already picked it out the night before and did not feel the need to second guess himself. He also didn't feel the need to second guess a single design in his portfolio. He knew every one of those designs were perfect. He would not change a single thing…even the fact that he still agreed with his decision to include some of the children's clothing that he'd designed. Kurt was feeling good. He was feeling confident. Today was going to be perfect. Today, all of his dreams were going to come true.

Kurt strolled into his office around 9am. Several of the other designers in the office were offering him good luck wishes, while others simply offered him a glare. That was ok. They were just jealous. Ms. Spencer's assistant was sitting at her desk when Kurt approached her at around 9:45am.

"May I help you?" Kurt read her nameplate: Glenda Stapleton.

"Yes, Ms. Stapleton. My name is Kurt Hummel and I have a ten o'clock meeting with Ms. Spencer." Kurt wasn't surprised that his voice was as steady as a rock. He was still feeling confident.

"Ah yes, Mr. Hummel. Ms. Spencer is finishing up a meeting with some board members. As soon as they are finished, I'll let her know you're here. Please, in the meantime have a seat. There's coffee just around the corner if you'd like some."

Kurt thanked her and took a seat in what could only be described as a small waiting room. He was waiting for his nerves to kick in but surprisingly, they never did. He was cool, calm and collected. He watched Glenda as she was continuously answering the phone. She took message after message, never once putting a call through. During the entire time she was answering call after call, she was also typing furiously on her computer. Kurt had no idea what she was typing but she never seemed to lose focus. Kurt decided that when he was in a position like Ms. Spencer's one day, he would need an assistant just as talented as Glenda was.

Suddenly, the door to Ms. Spencer's office opened and two men and one woman, impeccably dressed Kurt might add, walked out into the small waiting area followed by Ms. Spencer herself. Kurt had only spoken to her a couple of times before and he always found himself in awe of her. She was stunningly beautiful but she had a kind face. She was also relatively young. She got her big break at a young age. And wow, was she talented…and a super smart businesswoman. Her fashion house was one of the most well known in the world not only because she was one of the world's best designers but also because she surrounded herself with the best. Kurt was hoping to become just another one of those she surrounded herself with.

She said her polite goodbyes to the board members and turned to look at Kurt. She made eye contact, smiled and said "Mr. Hummel, I've been looking forward to our meeting. Please come in." She was personable. That was another thing that made her so successful. It was important to remember all of the details. After telling Glenda to hold all of her calls, and really, that's what Glenda had been doing all morning it seems, she led Kurt into her office.

"So Mr. Hummel, in preparation for our meeting I've been reacquainting myself with some of your work. You are quite a talented young man. I assume that's your portfolio you're holding, yes?" She spoke in completely professional terms but she just had this niceness about her that put Kurt even more at ease than he already was.

"Yes ma'am." Kurt handed over his portfolio. She motioned for Kurt to have a seat in one of her plush chairs while she took a seat at her desk and opened his portfolio. Kurt watched her as she carefully looked at each one. Her face never giving away whether she liked what she saw or not. Kurt was prepared to be a nervous wreck while she was going over his work but still, he found himself completely calm.

Her eyebrow arched when she reached a particular page. Kurt could tell from how many pages she'd already looked at that she had reached the children's section. She still said nothing and that small eyebrow arch was the only indication that she'd seen something that she hadn't expected. Forty-five minutes later, she closed his portfolio and looked up at him.

"Mr. Hummel I must say this is not what I was expecting. You see, every year I like to take a look at some of our junior staffers and give them a chance to impress me. That was how I got my big break. Someone took a chance on me and I knocked their socks off. Every year, I tell the junior staffer that if I like what I see they might find themselves with a promotion. Maybe not a full out line of their own but maybe a co-line with some other designer. I've been doing this for the past ten years. Do you know how many junior staffers have ever impressed me enough to warrant such a promotion?" Kurt shook his head. "Zero, Mr. Hummel. Zero."

For the first time Kurt began to feel nervous. He wasn't quite sure what to make of what she was saying. She still had that niceness to her voice. Kurt felt like she could be telling him that she killed kittens on the weekends and with that voice, no one would care. Was that what she was doing? Was Kurt the kitten in this case? He'd been so confident all morning. Hell, for the entire past week he felt like everything was perfect. Now he was wondering if he should've changed this hemline on one design or indicated a different fabric on another. His head was spinning with what-ifs.

The next words uttered snapped Kurt back into the present. "Until now. I knew I was right in choosing you this year. I had a gut instinct about you the first time one of your sketches crossed my desk. I love everything I see in this portfolio. Everything. Which brings me to ask…what made you include children's clothing? We don't even design children's clothes."

Kurt decided to be honest. "Well a few weeks ago I went back to my hometown to visit my father. While there I ran into, uh, an old friend and I helped him babysit this adorable three year old little girl. Her clothes were fine but I realized that outside of the Baby Gap there really isn't much else to
choose from in Ohio. I guess I could say inspiration struck. I know you don't have a children's line but something was telling me to include them in the portfolio, so I did."

Ms. Spencer stood up and walked around to lean on the front of her desk…directly in front of Kurt. "You listened to your gut Mr. Hummel. Wise choice."

They spent the next hour going over a handful of Kurt's designs in greater detail. Her asking why he chose this color or fabric or cut. She preferred his men's ware over the casual women's line but she absolutely loved his couture. That actually surprised Kurt. He preferred the men's line. What surprised him the most though was how long they'd spent going over his designs. He knew how busy she was and he was thankful for the time she was giving him. Even if nothing came of this, she still gave him some pointers and they did make a couple of changes to a few of his designs. He didn't complain because they were minor changes and they were coming from Ms. Rosaline Spencer.

After they'd gone through everything she stood up and closed Kurt's portfolio. "Do you mind if I keep this with me? I can see that Glenda gets you copies if you need."

"Absolutely Ms. Spencer. I have digital copies as well as hard copies of everything." Kurt couldn't believe that she wanted to keep his portfolio.

"Well in that case I'll see that Glenda gets you copies of the designs we made the adjustments on. I'd like to show the board members a few of your other designs. In the meantime, I'm going to set you up with Paul Brewer." Kurt knew that name and knew it well. He was the Paul Brewer of Brewer Mensware. Men all over the world lined up to wear his designs. "Now I do love your couture but I really think you'll benefit more working with Paul. He has just begun working on his new line and I think a collaboration between the two of you could result in great things. I see a promising future for you Kurt. You're not ready for your own line yet…but you will be, and you will be soon. And we'll be proud to include it under the Spencer umbrella."

Kurt felt like he had lost the ability to speak but he managed to thank her and after shaking her hand and receiving a promise that she would be in touch regarding meeting with Paul Brewer, Kurt walked out of the office on cloud nine. Screw working the rest of the day. He had a father to make proud.

"Wow Kurt! That's fantastic news! I knew she would love you!" Burt was just as excited as Kurt was. He couldn't believe how far Kurt had made it since leaving Ohio behind. He really was bigger than Lima. "So what now? When am I going to see Johnny Depp wearing a Kurt Hummel original?"

"Well Dad, I don't have my own line yet. Remember she said it was a collaboration. But Dad, it's with Paul Brewer! Paul Brewer!" Kurt had exited the building and decided he would walk back to his apartment rather than take the subway. It was a beautiful day outside and Kurt had so much energy built up that he didn't feel like sitting on the subway. "Anyway, I don't really know what happens next. She said that she would be in touch. Now I just wait. I should get an email with more details in a day or two."

"I am so proud of you Kurt. Really proud. Are you gonna tell Blaine?" Burt was a little hesitant about bring up Blaine but Kurt had asked about Blaine once or twice since he returned to New York. Of course Burt made a point to tell Kurt he had been a little worried about Blaine. Honestly Burt felt bad for Blaine. He was working so hard for his father and he didn't even appreciate it. No one should live their life like that.

Kurt sighed. "I don't know dad. I'm sure he'll find out. I know you'll tell him."

"I will if you want me to kid, but I think he'd probably rather hear it from you. Look, I'm not trying to push you into anything…"Burt heard another heavy sigh from Kurt. "…really I'm not Kurt. He's just under a lot of stress at work and you know how his father treats him. It would be nice if he could hear this exciting news from you."

"You know he's under a lot of stress at work? How often do you talk to him dad? I mean, I know you told me right after you'd hired him that you felt like he'd grown into a good young man. I just didn't think you'd continue a friendship with him once the lawsuit was over."

"Well I met with him not too long ago. He really hates what happened between you two all those years ago. And yes, he filled me in one what's going on with him at work. Despite everything he still hasn't earned the respect of his father. I don't think he ever will." Burt paused then added "He still loves you, you know."

Another heavy sigh from Kurt, "Yes, I know Dad. He's told me. And I hate what he has to go through at work but as hateful as this may sound, that really isn't a concern of mine. He made the choice to work for his father…just like he made the choice to lie to me back then. And he should regret that choice. He's where he is because of his decisions, not mine."

"Wow Kurt, I thought you were a bigger person than that. Maybe if you could find it within yourself to forgive him, maybe he could forgive himself."

Kurt thought for a moment and remembered Blaine's text from last week…forgiveness is part of the deal when you love someone…finally he spoke, "I don't know if I'm ready for that. I'm still confused about my feelings for him. I didn't know how much I missed him until I saw him again but I don't know what I can handle. And that includes whether or not I can forgive him just yet. Although I will say that spending time with him again was…"

CRASH!

Burt heard a loud noise and what sounded like a scream followed by a lot of strange noise that Burt couldn't quite make out. "Kurt?! KURT?!" Burt received no response. What he didn't know was that on the other end of the line Kurt was laying on the ground in a pool of his own blood.

I hope no one hates me after this. Kurt's accident is a catalyst that will take this story in another direction so it kind of had to happen. Please stay with me!

The next chapter should be posted tomorrow morning.

Reviews? Pretty please?