"Jess, may I speak to you outside?" Lena smiled politely after having been greeted by Kara.
Jess nodded and just as politely closed the door behind them before letting Lena lead them to the far end of the corridor.
"I'm sorry to bring this up while we are both at an event, but I cannot stand by while that woman thinks she can take advantage of you."
"Uh huh."
"Jess, I'm serious, I understand your position is difficult what with working at the Wilde firm, but she has no right to your off hours; this isn't the Devil Wears Prada Universe!"
"I'm excessively proud that you were able to reference that movie."
Lena took note of Jess' unperturbed state and yesterday's outfit. Come to think of it she's not sure Jess came home last night either, but sometimes their schedules didn't line up so they could miss each other by days but… "I'm guessing you don't find your position that difficult to bear?"
Jess held her hands up in a placating manner. "Lena..."
"Jessica Siu-ling Choy are you dating Dr. Wilde?!" Lena's voice was hushed but her intensity had Jess almost taking a step back. "Before you come up with some asinine lie let me remind you that I've never seen you wear the same outfit two days in a row."
"Aren't you jumping to conclusions?"
Lena narrowed her eyes.
"I couldn't tell anyone… if the board found out," Jess sighed, long and hard, "I was her student."
That amount of repressed shame couldn't have formed in few short weeks. "How long have you two been together?"
Jess refused to answer.
"When did this happen? Do you know how unethical it was for Dr. Wilde to seduce you while she had academic power over you?"
"How do you know I didn't do the seducing?"
"Knowing you, perhaps you did…" The moment of brevity ended, Lena turned serious once again. "Jess."
"I have things to chuck at your glass house as well, you know, we're practically in the same house just different floors." Jess started but she took a breath. "Lena, I…lo- feel a lot for her and we've been together for a while."
Lena was concerned how that demon of a woman could do such a thing to her friend. Her best friend who hadn't felt safe enough to tell anyone about someone she clearly loved. Not even Lena.
"Do you really?" Lena asked, referring to the admittance of love that Jess couldn't verbalize.
"Yes." Jess answered without an ounce of doubt.
Lena held on for a moment longer before she reached out, hand tentatively on Jess's shoulder. They weren't touchy feely people, especially not out in public, but Lena wanted to show she cared. "If she treats you poorly I have means to rid her of more than just company stocks."
"Jesus, okay cool your villainous roll, Luthor."
Lena took it on good grace and was surprised to have Jess pull her into a very brisk hug; if that brief lean could be referred to as a hug.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I actually wanted to, never in my life have I've been the PDA type and yet it was hard when I couldn't even tell you." Jess sighed again. "I couldn't tell family."
"Jess…"
Jess turned away, not alright with showing her fractured emotions.
Lena was in the same boat at this point. Sink or swim, they were friends because of how similar they were and she was about to her limit on emotional output. She tried for levity again. "How is it that after so many years, you've yet to have a drawer at her place?"
"It's one of the rules."
Lena whipped around to glare. She narrowed her eyes, and if possible, she was quite sure Dr. Wilde would feel her singular accusatory thought: cradle robber. "Rules?"
"Let's not discuss this in the hallway. Maybe I should leave for the evening so Kara's games night can be somewhat salvageable?"
A look at Jess' very controlled and stoic expression had Lena convinced if chagrined. "No, please stay. Perhaps we'll get to know one another better."