I gotta figure out what else is happening in this story besides pregnancy. Like I can't write every chapter as a pregnancy update so here we are.
Arizona's POV
I'm trying to make sense of the paperwork that was left on my desk. I've been going through them for a minute. I have everything else here except the motor vehicle records. This is important because the defendant's criminal offense involves a car. I'm not even going to reference my email because it should have been printed. I work so much better manually than online. To highlight something physically is better for me. I understand things better that way. I like to annotate the documents too. I can ask for the car records later if I can read the summary of the documents that the associate created. Scrolling through the papers again, I come to find that there's no draft of that, written or typed.
Okay, I officially do need to call her in here.
I raise the question, "I assume you received the vehicle records?" If not, that means more than two people assigned to this case have dropped the ball. From paralegals to associates.
"Yes, I have, it should be," she comes over to the desk and starts going through the papers herself. She flips through them as I did just to come up empty-handed. She comments, "I'm sorry I thought I gave you everything." She stands back up.
I shake my head, "No, you didn't I also didn't get your summary."
"I didn't exactly make a summary, but I took some notes, they're on my iPad."
"Why didn't you make a full summary?" I'm trying to empathize here because this is nothing new. She should have done this without being reminded or asked. So there may be more going on here that prevented her from doing it.
"No excuse," she states a matter of factly. Hmm? I'd prefer there to be an excuse actually.
She's giving way more eye contact than usual, "Is everything okay with you?" Rahel is usually on top of things. I don't always get to do these preparation things on every case so I like to think I can trust my people to get things done. Usually, I can, so maybe I'm missing something here. Maybe there was no summary needed as the case is straightforward.
"Yes, it really just slipped my mind. Won't happen again." Here is again, she's not breaking the stare. She's also still standing over me. Why am I the one who's uncomfortable? Aren't I the boss here?!
"What about the other people assigned to the case. Do you know if they had summaries?"
"Is it okay if I go look?"
"Yeah Rachel, go ahead," I gesture for her to leave. When she turns around, I get to be in my own space again. Gratefully so.
She comes back into the office with the iPad in hand. "So, they had summaries." Good to know that things are how I thought they'd be. She suggests," I know you prefer things to be printed out, but I can go over it with you so that you can take notes physically if you'd like. It would also give me a chance to summarize my notes." How very two birds- one stone of you.
Okay, so she's suggesting we work on this together. Though it feels like hand-holding, I'm okay to do it. For one, I need people on their A-game if I plan on not being here as often soon. So yes, Rachel I will hold your hands on this assignment.
Deluca and I are in stride as we walk to the elevator. Making sure no one is in earshot of me I start up the conversation that has been weighing on my mind all day since lie twelve. "You know I had to sit with Rachel today to write a summary! Like you're a paralegal and that's something I've never had to help you do. How is it that my associate needs help with that?" The question is rhetorical. I'm simply hoping he'd agree that this is an odd occurrence.
His response isn't what I expected as he says, "I'll be graduating soon I barely count as a paralegal anymore."
"Sure but, by the looks of things you may not need to graduate to be an associate. You are overqualified already. And not only you, maybe all the paralegals that you work with too."
"Huh! maybe," he shrugs. Still, I feel like I'm missing something.
"The ball has been dropped since the shooting," is the reasoning I come up with.
As the elevator arrives on our floor, Andrew holds the door for me to step in. He replies, "Yeah, that's it."
I let a moment pass as I step into the elevator. It feels like there's more to be said.
"You think there's a reason for that? Like is there something I could be doing differently?" Let's call this an evaluation. We do those three-sixty reviews around here.
"It's really not you." He turns to me, "I mean it is, but like it's not your fault." It is me but not me? So then who is it? Why? Just hold on.
"You're gonna have to help me out here Andrew, I don't know what that means."
"There's like a competition or something going on. The women who work here, or I should say some of them." He leans back onto the wall. "They're trying to get into your pants."
Making sure I heard that right, I ask for clarification, "Come again?"
"Are you asking because you didn't hear me or you just want to hear it again?
"Nevermind," I gesture for him to not repeat himself. I guess I heard correctly. It's just odd though. I've never slept with anyone who works for or with me. Why would there be a thing to see if I would now?
"To add, no one thought you dated. We've never really seen you with anyone since you've been here. Then came and went Callie. It's not like no one has ever talked about it before. It's only that now it seems like a possibility that they could do it. I can see why you're, uh- you're..." He struggles with the last part.
"Uh, you don't have to say anymore, it's okay."
"I know how some of the other people who work here get around. Even the partners. But that has never been my thing to mix business and pleasure." Looking up at the screen, we're on the ground floor now.
Andrew waits for me to catch up with him outside the elevator. "I think that's what makes it a competition. And by the way, the brunettes think they have the upper hand."
I don't even think I have a type. Callie just happened to be a brunette so that shouldn't count. Before Callie, Tiffany, also a brunette. We dated all throughout law school so I didn't have other opportunities then. However, think I have dated blondes. Maybe in college. Honestly maybe not.
"How long has this been going on? He has mentioned Callie and I's break up but how do they even know we've broken up?
"Since before the incident. Have you not noticed?" No, besides Callie and I were still together around that time. Whoa.
"Nope, I was only focused on you all being alright." I try to remember if anything has stood out to me before. Hmm, the answer's still no.
"Like certain female associates took the whole thing extra hard. Needed more attention than others?" No, I mean, no.
"Whenever you sent out hose emails to check in on us. Who were the ones responding about needing more time?"
"Now, that makes sense. I just thought, you know, women were better at reaching out when they need help. Better with emotions."
"Hey, I needed some time myself." I'm certain he's not saying he's in on this competition.
In all seriousness, he was one of the few guys who expressed that. I decided against making a comment or joke about the situation. "And I appreciated your honesty."
"Thank you because I am sensitive," He places his hand on his chest.
"Whatever Deluca," I tease.
Having had some time to see how I feel about the whole thing, all I manage to do is laugh. I literally have a kid on the way and with my ex-girlfriend. Meanwhile, my dad thinks Callie should be my wife. All of this is going on at the same damn time. So, the idea that any of them thinks this is the right moment for this whole thing is comical! Things just got good again with Callie! Why would I complicate my life even more? The associates might not know about Callie's pregnancy or the things that are going on with my dad, but still. I don't think I've ever given anyone that works for or with me the impression that I want to sleep with them. For me, work is professional. I- no, I never. It's interesting how I have to be careful at work but they don't have to. Could imagine if the partners and I were the ones who had this competition going? Not that those guys wouldn't be into it.