Filler chapter. Give me review love, it fuels me!

We had managed to recover from Dani's little show of jealousy at her single launch quite well. The only problem was that we had to go back in to the party when all I really wanted to do was take her home and ravish her. She was so horrified by her behaviour; she spent the next day doing everything she could to make it up to me. I got breakfast in bed, she took me shopping and then she took me to my favourite restaurant for lunch. I tried to tell her multiple times that she didn't need to apologise but she wanted to do everything anyway. Who am I to complain when my girl wants to treat me like a princess?

I'm currently sitting in my office trying to get up the nerve to go and speak to my boss. He left me a cryptic message and asked me to see him once I had settled in this morning and I can think of nothing worse. My desk phone rings and pulls me out of my thoughts. I check the caller ID before answering but it's only Lauren.

"Hey Laur"

"Hey San, I just wanted to let you know that you've been short listed."

"Wonderful. Maybe that's why douchebag wants to see me."

"What do you mean?"

"I dunno, he left a message and asked me to come see him. I was trying to avoid going down there as long as possible."

"I'm sorry, I know you'd prefer to already be out of here."

"It's not your fault, but I'm starting to wonder if it's worth waiting it out." I sigh, feeling a headache coming on. I realise I have another call coming through

"Hey, can I call you back? Deb is calling me" Deb is a senior partner that I haven't had a whole lot to do with. She's pretty close with Lauren and she's always been pleasant to me.

"Santana speaking" I answer the phone as professionally as possible.

"San, it's Deb, how are you?"

"I'm good thanks, what can I do for you?"

"Can you come by my office today?"

"Uhh, sure, of course, what time?"

"If you're free in the next hour, come by?"

"Okay, I'll see you soon."

"Great. See you then."

What is it with today and everyone wanting to see me? I head straight down to see Deb. At least this will also help me delay seeing Phil.

Deb's office door is open when I get there and she calls me straight in.

"Hi"

"Hey Santana, come right in"

I walk in and sit down opposite her waiting for her to tell me what she needs.

"I know we haven't had much to do with each other, but I want you to know, I know how hard you work and how good you are at your job. "

"Uhh.. thank you. That means a lot." I don't know where she's going with this.

"I know that you're in a shitty situation at the moment."

"What do you mean?" I decide to play dumb.

"With Phil. He's very old school, you know. "

"I'm starting to learn."

"The reason I asked you to come see me is because I wanted you to know that everyone here knows how hard you work and we all know that you're getting screwed but we're kind of in a shitty spot too because he's the boss and he's smart enough to take us all out."

"Okay, well I appreciate that. But it doesn't really help me." I say slightly irritated.

"I know. So here's what I've got for you. An old college friend is a senior partner at Lang & Simons, they have an opening. It's not senior partner, but I can pretty much guarantee a pay rise and if you do what you've been doing here, a Senior Partner position in the future.."

I'm in shock. Is she kidding?

"Why would you do this for me?"

"Because I think you deserve the job. And I don't want you to have to hide who you are like I did."

My eyes pretty much bug out of my head when she says that.

"Are you..?" I can barely get the question out.

"Around here, no. But my private life is private. And it was a different time when I was trying to make my place in this business. You don't have to worry about it being an issue at L&S, Tony is a raging fucking homo"

I laugh out loud at this.

"Thank you, I appreciate the offer but I haven't really thought about what I want to do."

"That's okay, think about it. I've told them about you and they're keen to meet you but understand that at this stage you're still employed here. Tony mentioned that they wouldn't start looking for an alternative for a month since business is pretty quiet. Here's his card. Give him a call." She hands me a business card.

"What about the non-compete?" I ask, referring to the clause in my contract.

"I'll deal with that."

"Thank you so much." I grin at her, feeling lighter than I have in weeks.

"Just keep in touch, okay?" She says smiling back at me.

"I will." As I'm about to get up to leave, something occurs to me.

"Wait, aren't you married? With a kid?"

"I am, going on 15 years. And Charlie is 7" She smiles with a glint in her eye.

"How have you kept that hidden?"

"Alex is a photographer. She travels a lot and she is not overly fussed about being hidden since it's only around here. If I'm being completely honest, I think Phil knows but there is nothing he can do about it at this late stage. We just minimise our conversations about our personal lives."

"Wow. I don't think I could do it." She shrugs.

"As I said, different times." She stands up to see me out.

"I have to go see Phil, any idea what he wants?"

"Nope, but don't let him bully you."

"I'll try not to. Thanks again." I turn back and decide to hug her given our recent bonding session.

She returns the hug and I pull back and decide to ask "Maybe we should have dinner some time? Alex can join and I'll bring Dani"

"Sound good." She says enthusiastically.

"Great. I'll see you later."

I decide to just go straight to Phil's office to get it over with. His door is shut when I get there so his assistant calls through to see if he's available for me.

She tells me to go in and my blood starts to boil the minute I'm in his presence.

"You wanted to see me?" I question.

"Ah yes, Miss Lopez, please sit down."

"I'm okay to stand, thanks." I say curtly.

"Very well. I just wanted to make sure that there were no hard feelings regarding the promotion? We're about to announce Derek's success and I would hate for there to be any negativity brought towards him."

"Why, because he doesn't actually deserve it?"

"Well now, that's not true. He is the best person for the job."

"Yet not the most qualified, nor experienced. I'm not about to bad mouth the kid because that's not who I am, but we both know that I am the best person for that job and the only reason I didn't get it is because I don't like penis. " He looks dumbstruck that I dared to speak to him like he. He is struggling to respond.

"That is not.." I cut him off

"Save it. You know it, I know it, most of the company knows it. And I can guarantee you that Derek knows it. "

"Yes well, Derek is getting the job so none of that matters anyway, I just wanted to make sure you were okay with it all."

"No it doesn't and no I'm not. I'm actually done with you and your backwards ways. As far as I'm concerned, you can shove your promotion and your patronising bullshit up your ass. I quit. I'll finish out the week but I'm between cases so it shouldn't be too hard to handover to Derek. " I decide to not bother letting him respond and walk out of the office.

Holy shit.