People really had never understood her relationship with Dani Harper. It had never been a relationship, from the time that they were teenagers, Dani had been the one to pursue her. Dani had been the one to tell people that they were dating. Even after she had cut Dani from her life, Dani had been the one to re-enter her life. She had been the one to beg her for the money to pay for her mother's treatment.
She had still been brooding over finding out that Santana had slept with Frannie. It had made sense at the time to use Dani again, she wanted to get at Santana. It had been stupid then and stupid to continue. Sleeping with Dani had been a mistake then, one that she had acknowledged back then. It had been Dani who had offered to sell her body to her for the money to pay for her mother's treatment. She had seen through that ploy; Dani had hoped it would be her chance to win her over.
Putting a contract down in front of Dani had brought a smile to her lips, and she had made sure Dani had understood what her position was. Dani had never meant anything to her, but she could be a useful tool, and a good way to relieve some tension.
It was after Quinn's wedding and seeing Santana again, that had changed things. She hated how Santana forced her to feel when she didn't want too. How just being in Santana's presence made her feel at peace. To see the hurt on Santana's face had cut right through the wall she had put up and she knew that her deal with Dani needed to end. She had always intended to continue paying for Dani's mothers' treatment, she wasn't a heartless monster, but she was also granting Dani her freedom.
She hadn't even wanted to have sex with Dani, the last time that they were together. But she hadn't been in the mood to continuously rebuff her, and had for the most part put in her headphones and listened to music as Dani had gotten on her knees between her legs and brought her to a weak orgasm. She had exhausted Dani as she normally did, and once Dani had woken up, she had kicked her out.
It had been the last time she had seen Dani alive. And now sitting here in solitary confinement it was all she could think of. Had she missed something that Dani had said in the days leading up to that night? Had she missed something that she had said during that night, it was highly possible she generally didn't listen when Dani opened her mouth. Sex with her felt like more of a chore than something that she enjoyed.
Charlie opened her eyes after a moment at the sound of someone walking through the halls, she had refused to touch the food that they had given her, if Titan industries could pay off some genetic testing company, or a government official. Paying one of these poorly paid correctional officers to turn the other cheek would hardly be a problem for them.
She opens her palm and after a second a sandwich appeared with a bottle of water, and she eats it quickly She could trust Sam, who had already sent her message that he was diverting resources to find Dani Harper. She already had a few private investigators who were looking into it discreetly. They would find her, and if she found out that Dani had willing worked with Titan to fuck her over, then she probably would kill her.
She drains the bottle of water quickly and gets rid of the evidence and crosses her legs. Maybe she should work out once again. She couldn't lose a step, her lawyers said that she'd be out by Tuesday at the latest. Once she got out, she'd let Titan know that she knew that they were involved. But she already knew what the first thing she needed to do when she was granted bail. And that was see Santana.
She closed her eyes again and exhaled deeply. She just needed to last a few more days, and after seeing Santana it was finally time to go after everyone that had screwed her over.
~ O ~
'After a rather contentious day in court with more evidence presented, the judge has finally set bail for the embattled former CEO Charlotte Fabray. Bail was set at five million and quickly posted. We'll have images from the Logan Correctional Center as she exits. Joining us on the panel is Francesca—'
Miguel Lopez muted the television and looked at his daughter who was biting her bottom lip, "I don't know what you ever saw in her."
"I thought you liked Charlie?" Santana frowned looking at her father, wondering if her mother had finally managed to turn her father against Charlie. "You don't really believe—"
Miguel held his hand up to stop Santana from talking and looked back to the kitchen where his wife was currently making dinner. "You and I both know that Charlie is capable of it, that's not in dispute. But I don't believe that she did this," he said keeping his voice low. "I'm not talking about Charlotte, I understand that now, I mean Frannie."
Santana winced; she'd been wondering that herself since Frannie had started this media crusade against Charlie. "I didn't know when we started dating," it's a weak excuse and the look her father gives her suggests that he's not buying it. "They both hate each other."
"And yet I don't think Charlie would go on television and tell the world what a terrible person Frannie is. Even if I believed Charlie did what she was accused of, I certainly wouldn't betray my family like that. I understand that their relationship took a turn for the worse after Charlie found out but this must run deeper than that."
Santana picked at her nails, "According to Quinn, Charlie hates Frannie for abandoning them with their father, and not returning after the death of their mother. Frannie never really hated Charlie so much as she thought Charlie was a psychopath." Santana takes a breath. "But Charlie was smart and resourceful and she made her fortune, despite the fact that Frannie always thought of her as nothing more than a thug, and I think that bothered Frannie that she was wrong. And even though she wouldn't admit it, it bothers her that Charlie who nearly dropped out of high school, and didn't go to an Ivy League School, is doing well for herself. Then the whole I dated both of them, soured what was left of their relationship."
Miguel nodded, "That wasn't your smartest decision to continue the relationship when you finally found out. It was even sillier to let her find out on her own." He's quiet for a moment as he watches Frannie arguing with a talking head for a moment. "Are you going to see her?"
Santana scowled; she didn't really need her father commenting on her terrible life decisions. She knew that they were shitty decisions. "Charlie doesn't want me to get disbarred for being seen with her. She said she'll see me, which I imagine means when she can get a moment alone."
Santana raises a brow when she spots a dark SUV pull up to the prison, and Sam steps out of it, ignoring the flashing lights of the cameras and the people who are protesting Charlie's release. "Well look at that Trouty-mouth is moving up in the world." She was glad that someone from Charlie's inner circle was there to pick her up.
"It's a disgrace, is what it is," Maribel said with a frown. There were hundreds of ways that Charlie could have tried for bail, the evidence simply wasn't there. Finding a body wasn't proof of anything, the pictures looked bad but any decent judge would have suppressed them due to the fact that Dani had signed a contract.
"She's innocent," Santana sighed not really wanting to get into it with her mother. "That wasn't Dani."
"I know it wasn't but making it public that the crime lab screwed up, or simply didn't test the body like they claimed has opened up the District Attorney's office to liability. Every case that has gone through that lab is now under review and the evidence is being re-tested." Maribel sighed and looked at her daughter for a moment.
"The charges should be dropped—"
"I'm not the one in charge of the case, I had to recuse myself. I agree with you Santana, this doesn't look good, it's looking more and more like Dani killed someone and used that body to frame Charlie. At least that's the newest theory in the breakroom. Until Dani's body is found."
"Wouldn't put it past her," Santana mutters. If Dani had decided to work with Titan, Charlie would probably kill her in the most painful way possible without getting caught.
"Well she certainly knows how to make an entrance." Maribel mused as Charlie walked out, dressed in some fancy designer clothing. She had no idea how Charlie didn't look worse for wear, but she stood tall with her sports jacket tossed over her shoulder like this was a runway show. This only seemed to inflame the protestors. "It was a good thing that I pointed out that we should have a few police there to make sure the crowd and the journalists don't get rowdy."
Santana bit her lip, as Charlie allowed Sam to hug her tightly, and smiled at how annoyed she looked at this even as she patted him on the back, and slid into the SUV. She watches as Sam slides in after her, and the door closes. She could only hope that Charlie wouldn't be—Santana glances up immediately to where her room was located, and a small smile graced her lips. She's about to excuse herself when just as soon as she can feel Charlie's presence it's gone. "Be right back," she said excusing herself as she heads up to her room.
She pushes open the door and notices a flower laying on her bed, and she moves towards it noting the phone beside it. She touches the phone and notes that the only number in the contacts list is unlisted and she immediately calls it. It rings once and is immediately picked up. "Charlie?" She prompts.
'Hey.'
Santana snorted at the simple reply; it was so Charlie. There was an awkward pause and she can practically hear the gears grinding in Charlie's head. When they were younger without all the drama, this had been easier. They had talked for hours about everything and nothing. "When can I see you?" She asks deciding to cut straight to the chase.
'Tonight, if you're able too. I'm not going home; I'll text you the address.'
It's only a second before the text comes through and she glances at it. It was close by, which meant that she would probably have time to get ready, she didn't know what to expect, but this event had clearly thawed Charlie to her presence. "I'll be there," Santana said. She hesitates for a moment wondering if she should press for the status of what they were.
'Santana?'
"Yeah?"
'Missed you.'
Santana blinked, it was that gentle tone that Charlie had only with her, so maybe she could put in a bit more effort. "I missed you too, I'll see you soon," she promises. She ends the call and bites her lip for a moment before ending the call.