Sorry it's taken me so long to update! I have not forgotten about this story and I have big plans for it. I will try to update weekly from now on. Enjoy!

The next two weeks passes without incident, but my anger and resentment for Casey being chosen for the Executive ADA job does not dissipate in the least. I do everything to avoid her; I don't go to any of the DA meetings; I use the excuse that I had an appointment or court ran late. I ignore her emails and I'm conveniently out of the office whenever she wants to see me.

It's no way to handle the problem and I know it, but I don't know what else to do. It's easier for me this way. Talking to her will only end in me being angry all over again and being as cruel and hurtful as possible because she got what I wanted. Best to avoid the situation all together.

It took a little while for my colleagues to stop looking at me like I was a zoo exhibit. Whenever I'd walk down the hall people would stop and just stare at me. The minute I stepped onto the elevator all conversations ceased. Everyone knew how angry I was about not getting the job and treated me like fine China; as if they were afraid I'd break and take them down with me. Thankfully I'm at a point in my life where I'm above the opinions of others. But I have to say, it did still bother me.

Maybe I would have snapped; I can't say for sure. The first week had been the toughest. I snapped at everyone in sight and for the first time I started not caring about my work. My attitude was if they didn't appreciate me enough to give me a promotion I more than deserved after everything I've done, why should I care about my work?

The attitude was short-lived and the following week I was back to working until almost seven every night. Throwing myself into my work seemed like the only way to start moving on.

I've barely said two words to Jack McCoy since the day he made the announcement that Casey was chosen for the job. I honestly have nothing to say to him. I always thought we had a great relationship; I respected him and he respected me. What he did equaled a slap in the face. And what's worse, it was in front of my colleagues. A very public humiliation in which someone inferior to me was chosen for the job I'd been primed for. My years of service, my conviction rate, and my experience apparently meant nothing. He'd rather give a very important job to someone who had been censured and had their law license suspended for three years and somehow managed to claw their way back into the D.A's office. McCoy's reasons for this strange choice did make me think about the way I conduct myself, but I cannot justify Casey being chosen over me no matter how many times I try. Granted she is better with people, I'll give her that one, and her conviction rate is almost as impressive as my own, but these are not reasons to be elevated to the position of ADA. Over the past two weeks I've wondered if maybe something else is going on.

As much as I wanted this job for myself, I also wanted it for my father. For his memory, for his legacy. He's the reason I do what I do every day. My father is the biggest inspiration of my entire life. I walk these halls every day knowing that my father used to walk them as well. I know he'd be proud of me and the work I'm doing. My father was an executive ADA and he worked hard to get there, much like I have. A big part of my motivation is making my father proud. And part of me is glad he is not here right now and doesn't know that I've failed.

Although I've been avoiding Casey, I've also been paying attention to how she is doing her job. I have to say I'm impressed. She hasn't screwed up yet, at least not to my knowledge. Being in charge of several ADAs and delegating caseloads can't be easy. I honestly didn't think she'd last two weeks. Whenever I start to convince myself that maybe I'm not being fair to her I think about what she did and how she betrayed everything we stand for as prosecutors and is somehow still further along than me. Then the anger and resentment returns.

On Thursday of the second week I am sitting at my desk on my computer working on some case notes for a trial that starts the next day when my door opens and Casey enters my office unannounced and uninvited.

I barely glance up at her and sigh. "I'm busy – hence the reason my door was closed. Ever hear of knocking?"

"I'm sure you would have told me to go away," she answers back, sounding as annoyed as I am.

I smile to myself. "You're right, I would have." I finally raise my eyes and look at her. She's holding a very large case file. "So leave."

"No, I won't," she says sternly. "You've been going out of your way to avoid talking to me, you haven't come to one meeting since I was appointed for this job, you don't answer my emails and you completely blow me off when I leave you a message in your office saying I want to see you. It ends today."

Ohhh, she's serious. I've made her mad. I'm slightly amused at how important she thinks she is, so I sit back in my chair and cross my arms in front of my chest in a defiant pose.

"I know you don't like me, and believe me, the feeling is more than mutual," she says, and it stings a little. "But that doesn't change the fact that because of our jobs, we have to have a working relationship. You have to come to the weekly meetings to make sure you're on the same page as everyone else." She digs a piece of paper out of the huge file she has and lays it down on my desk.

I look down at it – it appears to be a checklist. "What is this?"

"Some changes I've made. I do things a little differently than McCoy does. Since you're unaware, I took the time to type it up for you. And I suggest you read it."

I want to laugh out loud. Changes? Really? I don't even bother to read the first one; as soon as she leaves this will go into my desk drawer until I feel it's important to read it. Which will be probably never. "Looks like great reading. Too bad I can't download it to my Nook."

She ignores my snarky comment and practically throws the heavy file down on my desk. "I give out case assignments for the week at the Monday morning meetings. Which you would know, if you bothered to show up. So this is what you were supposed to be working on all week. Congratulations; you're behind."

I flip open the case file and there are at least three pending cases inside. I look up at her angrily. "I should have had this on Monday! Do you know how long it's going to take me to catch up?"

Casey shows no sympathy whatsoever. "That falls under the category of 'Alex's problems and not mine'. I have been sending you messages all week. I have to come to your office several times to see you. If you had read my emails before elegantly pressing the 'delete' button, you would have discovered that I attached the files to every one of them. You could have been working on all this on Monday if you had gotten over yourself."

I'm flipping through the files and getting angrier. One of these cases goes to trial a week from Tuesday; today is Thursday. There's no way I will have enough time to meet with the appropriate witnesses and prep the case in addition to everything else she wants me to do.

I'm mostly angry at myself, because I know this is my fault and this was easily avoidable. But it's easier to blame Casey, so that's what I'm doing. "You should have just left this in my office. Now I'm four days behind."

Casey actually laughs. "So this is my fault? Instead of admitting that your behavior has been deplorable, you choose to blame me for it? Sorry, Alex, but this isn't my fault and I don't feel sorry for you. Looks like you'll be spending your weekend at the fabulous Manhattan D.A.'s office while I'm at home relaxing."

I had no big weekend plans anyway, but I certainly didn't want to be here and Casey standing in front of my desk and gloating about the fact that she doesn't have to work and I do is really making me angry, even though this whole thing is my fault. I flip the file closed and look at her again. "Is there anything else?"

"Yes; get an attitude makeover. You don't have to treat me like I'm dirt on the bottom of your thousand dollar shoes. I'm sorry I got this job and you didn't. I never thought McCoy would pick me. But he did, so you have to accept it and move on. I've tried to be nice to you. What is your damn problem?"

I'm in no mood to rehash this right now, so I just say, "You're my problem. I don't like you or anything you stand for, and you were the least deserving of this job. The fact that he chose you baffles me." I should just leave it at that, but I'm still in full attack mode. "You two have a fling or something?"

Casey rolls her eyes and steps away from my desk. "That is disgusting – I can't believe you said that. Forget it. Just do your damn work and show up to the meetings on Mondays. Other than that, I'll only see you when I absolutely have to. I don't know why I even wanted to be your friend. You may be smart and talented at your job, but your attitude stinks and I certainly misjudged your character. I expect to see you at our meeting Monday morning. I expect you to be there sans the attitude. If you don't show up again, I'll take disciplinary action. Even the High Priestess of the DA's office has to follow the same rules as everyone else."

I don't say anything else as she turns and leaves my office, slamming the door behind her. I look once more at the pile of work on my desk and angrily curse out loud. I'm mad at myself and not at Casey for once. She is just doing her job and I'm the bitch that can't let go of my personal resentment towards her having that job.

I put myself behind. I'll be here all weekend because of me. Casey didn't do this; I did. It's just so much easier to blame her. I hate that I feel the need to be this way. That I have to resort to going into Ice Queen Mode instead of apologizing when I'm wrong. I don't think the words "I'm sorry" have moved past my lips more than three times in my life, and there's been a lot of situations where they have been warranted. I just can't seem to say it. I equate admitting that I'm wrong with being weak. And I'm not weak.

I finish up what I'm currently working on and decide to get a jump start on this file. As soon as I open it again, a headache hits me. I know what I'm going to have to do to finish by Monday, and I'm not looking forward to it. Thirteen hour days, here I come.

I decide to go get some coffee to fuel me. The nearest coffee machine is in the conference room down the hall so I go in there, finding it empty was a freshly brewed pot of coffee. I smile at that small victory.

I've just poured myself a cup when I hear the first scream and the first gunshot.

What did you think of this chapter? the next one is really intense, so prepare yourself. I won't make you wait long for it. Leave me a review and let me know what you think!