A/N: Just a short chapter here... it's basically a set-up chapter lol. But it is going to briefly make Elliott and Reese's storylines cross :P

Chapter Fourteen

Abusing Authority

When Cole Oakley had said the office would be buzzing when his clients found out he had returned, Elliott had just assumed that the guy was just bigging up his ego. She hadn't expected a work load any bigger than any of her other bosses. Friday evenings and Monday mornings were always the heaviest parts of the week, with Wednesdays generally being dead. It was Wednesday today, but the office certainly was not dead.

The phone had been ringing practically off the hook all morning, with various big shots (a lot of names that Elliott recognised from newspapers and rich lists) demanding to have a meeting with Cole Oakley. So after only one hour Cole Oakley was fully booked with clients for the next three weeks – and the calls just kept on coming.

Elliott had never had to work so hard in an office in her whole life. She was actually breaking out a sweat as she frantically typed in the details of what seemed like the billionth client into the computer system. Although it probably wouldn't have been as hard if she hadn't insisted on writing a hard copy of each appointment in the large, leather bound notebook on the desk. But these people seemed important, and if the computer system crashed and all the information was lost she knew she would get slaughtered.

But at least all this excitement her mind was kept off the more cringe worthy thoughts of Gary. After Cole had so conveniently interrupted, Gary had stayed for the pizza, and then had made a swift exit. Elliott didn't blame him; if it hadn't been her own house she would have done exactly the same. They had made thin, strained conversation; both sitting on opposite sides of the room. The moment between them had been lost, and despite the fact both of them might have wanted to recapture it, no one made a move. Which just left awkwardness.

And she was supposed to be going to the school reunion with him? Geez that would be a hoot and a half. She wouldn't be surprised if he just rushed off to his new job without a word.

Might even be for the best.

Elliott hung up on her billionth caller and sighed, taking the split second of silence to check the time. It wasn't even lunchtime yet. Not for the first time she regretted taking this job. Her first day and already she could feel her throat getting sore with the amount of talking she had done. By the end of the week she would be mute, she knew it.

The phone began to ring again and she restrained a loud curse. Instead she glared at it bitterly, wondering if she should pick up at all. They could just call back later – after all they weren't going to get to see Oakley for another three weeks anyway, so it wouldn't kill them to wait a little while before they made that appointment. But then she noticed that it was an internal line, and realised it was probably Cole wanting something. She felt a pang of panic. Had she had another job to do? Like letters or something? She couldn't remember, but she was quite sure he had just said phones...

Elliott scooped up the phone and put it to her ear. 'Yes, Mr Oakley?' she said in her smart receptionist voice that she was sick of hearing this morning.

There was a light, amused chuckle from down the other end. 'Hold all calls, Elliott, and come on in here. A mid-morning break is in order.'

'Um, okay Mr Oakley.' Elliott frowned vaguely. Mid-morning break? It was only half an hour away until lunch!

'It's Cole, Elliott.'

Before she could correct herself, he had hung up. She sat there for a moment, bewildered, before setting the phone on mute and rising out of her seat. She had been sitting so long that her joints had gone stiff, but with a quick flex she headed towards the closed door of her boss's office and put her hand on the handle. Should she knock or just head on in? Well he was expecting her so... She smoothed her hair back and then walked in the office.

Cole's office was huge – much bigger than anyone else in the building. It was decorated in the style of some kind of Japanese dojo house, which was quite calming and pleasant, and there was a faint smell of incense coming from somewhere. Cole was behind his desk, looking as smart as ever in a jet black suit with a dark red, tie-less shirt on beneath it. His hair was just as spiked and crazy as ever, but there was the marked difference in that he had shaved. Elliott thought it best not to mention it though.

'Don't just linger by the door,' he chuckled, eyeing her with those glittering eyes of his. He reminded Elliott faintly of a lion in the underbrush and suddenly wanted nothing more than to go back and carry on receiving those stupid phone calls. 'Come sit down. Relax a bit. You've been working hard this morning.' He leaned back and tapped his computer as she approached the chair. 'I've been keeping tabs on you updating the system. I've got to say I'm astounded at how many calls you've managed to get through. You're like a pro.'

Elliott perched on the edge of one of the smooth leather chairs opposite his desk. 'I made a hard copy too.' She told him. 'Just in case the system failed or something.'

'Oh you don't have to worry about that. This system is absolutely flawless. And even if it did do the impossible and fail, everything is backed up to an external system in the closet. I know, not the best of places to keep a computer, but it made the room look untidy.'

Elliott glanced around for a closet, but she couldn't see one. She cleared her throat and shifted uncomfortably, then looked back to her boss. 'Was there uh... something you wanted me to do?' she asked.

Cole just smiled and reached into the bottom drawer of his desk. 'Calm down, Elliott. You're sitting there like a schoolgirl in the principal's office. I told you I didn't want to be one of those bosses that demand respect and stiff upper lips.' He produced two paper bags, putting one in front of him and handing one over the desk to her. 'I know it's not quite lunchtime, but I'll probably working through mine and I really wanted to have lunch with you today. To see how you were getting on.'

Elliott cocked an eyebrow at the paper bag before she took it. 'I'm really not that hungry, Mr... Cole. And the phone is flashing like mad so I think I should really take some of those calls...'

'Do you like sushi, Elliott?' Cole interrupted, peering into the bag.

'Not really.' Elliott grimaced. Trust him to have some fancy food for lunch.

'Good,' Cole smirked as he reached into the back and produced a little card carton full of fries. 'Because it's nothing that special.'

Elliott peered into her own bag to see a wrapped burger and fries inside. She blinked, surprised. She hadn't expected someone like him to eat stuff like this. Although she was relieved; if it had been sushi she would have had to eat it so as not to be rude, and she was pretty sure if she had she would have puked all over his office.

But then again that would be one way to get her old job back.

'I'm so sorry for interrupting you last night,' Cole said as he picked at one of the fries. 'I wasn't really thinking. Sometimes I forget that people have lives outside of work, as I don't.'

'It's okay,' Elliott shrugged. 'We were just... well...' She paused, wondering if she should tell him about her complicated history with Gary. It would probably have to come up sooner or later, so she sighed a little. 'That was Reese's dad. My son, Reese. He uh... We were just talking. About stuff.'

Cole nodded, but kept those eyes on her. 'Ah, right. Now that I think back they are quite a double of each other, aren't they? Although I've only seen them both briefly...' He paused to eat one of the fries, and while he chewed Elliott saw him looking at her hands. She knew what was coming next. 'So you're not married?'

Elliott shook her head. 'We're not together.'

'Well it's not like you're missing out,' Cole laughed. 'I've been married three times now, and every time it's been a shambles. But when you rake in over a four and a half hundred grand a year it's hard to find someone who likes you for who you are, and not for the money.'

Elliott blinked. 'That's a lot of money.' She pointed out.

Cole sniffed and glanced away, looking slightly bored. 'And that's not even counting bonuses. Enough about money though, the subject bores me. I hope you don't think I'm being nosy or anything, but I like to get to know my receptionists. If it's too much then feel free to tell me to mind my own business.'

Elliott bit back a sharp retort telling him that maybe he should mind his own business – after all she was only here to answer the phones, not eat junk food with him and be his new BFF. 'It's fine.' She said instead.

He nodded, smiling. 'Well all I can think of is that it must be you who is keeping the pair of you apart, as no one in their right mind would let a dime like you slip away.'

Elliott glanced away, embarrassed. 'I think I should really go back to the phones...' she started.

'How about dinner?' He said, again ignoring her. He smiled lopsidedly, raising one eyebrow inquisitively. 'Say... tomorrow night? Purely business, of course.'

You have got to be kidding me, Elliott thought irritably. So that was it, huh? This guy had only offered her this job to get into her pants? Sure looked that way. But then again why the hell would he offer her pay rises just for that purpose? She wasn't that special. She was no supermodel.

It's because he has the money for it, idiot, her brain told her harshly. Weren't you listening? He probably does it for fun. He just wants a cute little secretary to come in between meetings to have a good fool around until he heads back home to the rest of his little harlots who are probably waiting for him.

'I think I'm busy tomorrow night.' Elliott told him, knowing fine well that she wasn't.

Cole nodded, but it was obvious he wasn't going to give up that easily. 'Tonight then? Only I remember you saying this morning that you weren't doing anything.'

Shit, Elliott thought. 'Well, um...'

'You're not doing anything, are you?' Cole pushed.

'Well, no... but-'

'Then I'll pick you up at eight.' He grinned. Obviously that had been his only reason for inviting her into his office, because he immediately put the paper bag down and sat forward. 'Now if that's settled I have a few calls to make. You can take your lunch break now if you want, just make sure you're back for one.'

Elliott blinked at him in bewilderment. What a frigging nerve! He had just practically forced her into going to dinner, and like hell she wanted to sit opposite him and listen to him drone on about how many clients he had and how much money he had and his ex wives or whatever... She opened her mouth to tell him that it wasn't settled, and she wasn't going for dinner with him because she didn't want to work for a pervert...

...but he had already picked up the phone and was talking to someone. He winked at Elliott, and then turned away in his chair as he jovially chatted to a client.

Seething, Elliott rose out of her seat and left the office. Damn right she was going to take her dinner break now. If she stayed in this building a minute longer and she would implode.