Title: Crash Email: detour_black@hotmail.com Author: Nina Paring: R/T Spoilers: None Summary: Leigh bumps her car into someone's and things happen after the car incident. Disclaimer: Damn…how I wish I really own them…hehe. Feedbacks: I would greatly appreciate it if you review my story. :)

2010

Damn traffic. Leigh shrugged as she leaned her head against her car window. She was on her way to work and was already late for work and even worse, she's been stuck in traffic for almost half an hour on a rainy day. Then suddenly her cellphone started to ring, she quickly answered it, "hello?"

"where are you and you're late," it was her co-worker, Faye.

"11th street, stuck in traffic," she replied

"oh fun," Faye said sarcastically, "Drew is wondering if you're going to show up," Faye said, mentioning her 37 years old boss.

"well, tell him I'll be there as soon as I can and I hope he's not mad...did the meeting start already?" Leigh asked

"yeah..."

"arg! Damn traffic!" she groaned

"don't worry, I'll tell him that you got stuck in traffic and it's not that he's going fire his favorite writer you know," said Faye

Leigh shrugged, "alright, gotta hang up now and I'm gonna try to-" she was cut off when her body flew forward.

"Leigh?" Faye frowned on the other line

"urg...talk to you later..." she closed her cell and looked around. She groaned when she learned what just happened, she bumped into a car in front of her.

"Look at what you did you bitch! You're gonna pay for this!" a man yelled at her when she got out of her car to examine the damage she made and a policeman came to them.

"excuse me?" she frowned at him and noticed the trademark smirk plastered on his face, she recognized him right away

the man smirked, "are you deaf or something?"

Leigh's frown deepened and it was replaced with anger, "you know what, I was going to apologize for bumping into your stupid car because I was on the phone with my co-worker but now I don't think I should because you don't deserve it,"

"then I'll file a lawsuit, you want that?" he raised his brows at her

"go ahead and I don't care," she hissed at him, "if you want, you can sue me and send me to jail," she said, "and I don't give a damn Dugrey. Still arrogant and an asshole, and after all those years, you haven't change at all, not even a bit. Looks like military school didn't make you a better man." She said in a sharp tone and headed back inside her car and drove away.

Tristan Dugrey stood there, dumbfounded. No woman had talked to him like that and he was taken off guard when the woman knew who he was. Who the hell is she? He wondered and looked at the damage of his car that she made, it was terrible.

"Mr. Dugrey? Would you like me to report her?" the policeman asked him

Tristan shook his head, "nah...leave her alone...what an interesting woman she is..." he said

"I was afraid that you were going to report her sir," said the policeman

He frowned, "and why not?"

"uh well, one I am a fan of her column and second she's the Ambassador's granddaughter," the policeman said shyly when he said the first reason

Tristan raised his brows, "column? What is she? A writer? And she's Richard Gilmore's daughter?" he asked

"yes sir, she is a writer and been interviewed many times. I like her though I am married. And yes she's Leigh Gilmore, kin to Ambassador Gilmore," he said

"Leigh Gilmore? I don't think I've heard of her. Anyways I better go," Tristan shrugged and the policeman nodded his head

Leigh Gilmore? Does Richard Gilmore have another granddaughter? He wondered as he drove to work.

Faye looked up when she heard something and saw that someone bumped into Leigh who just arrived ....

Leigh growled, "arg! I hate this day I swear!"

"what happened to you Leigh? Why are you so wet?" Faye asked

"I need to change," she grunted moodily and disappeared

"what was that Faye?" Drew poked his head from his office door

"Leigh just arrived all drenched and Greg bumped into her and spilled coffee on her shirt," replied Faye

Drew shrugged, "send her here when she's done please,"

"will do,"

Few minutes later she came out of the bathroom in clean dry clothes. She was glad that she brought extra clothes but she had to change her business clothes into a pair of tee and jeans.

"Hey, Drew wants you in his office when you're done," Faye told her. Leigh shrugged, placed her bags on her desk and knocked on her boss' door.

"Come in,"

Leigh opened the door and Drew looked up from his papers

"I'm sorry I'm late," she apologized

"Faye said you came in wet, what happened?" he asked.

She didn't want to think about her counter with Tristan earlier but she felt that Drew might want to know so she told him.

"Former high school classmate? Not best of friends either?" he asked after she told him everything

"never liked that bastard. Called me Mary on my first day of school, got into fights with my then boyfriend...he's evil," she shuddered as she spoke

Drew chuckled softly and nodded his head with interest, "very interesting, what did you say his name was?"

"Tristan Dugrey,"

Drew looked at her with surprise, "the lawyer?"

she shrugged on her shoulders

"Leigh, I am very surprised at you. Tristan Dugrey is the youngest lawyer ever accomplished in the United States, how come you didn't know that?"

"because I am not a socialite and hate law," she sighed

"still, as a writer, you must know and now you gave me an idea, I have a new assignment for you," Drew smiled sheepishly at her and she knew what he was thinking, she started to protest

"no, no, no! If you tell me to interview him, I will hate you forever,"

"oh, your hatred for me will be worth it and yes, you are going to interview that former classmate of yours. Deadline will be next week got that?"

"I really really really hate you Drew," Drew laughed at her

"but you love me,"

Leigh rolled her eyes, "not anymore," and she left his office.

"Tell me again why did I work here," she groaned as she sat down on her desk

Faye frowned, "because you love to write, why?"

"oh right but there is no way I am going to do this new assignment. Drew is evil, really really evil,"

Faye cocked her eyebrow, "your assignment is?"

"interview Tristan Dugrey," she said bitterly

Faye gasped, "you're lucky! That guy is one hottie," she grinned

she shot her a look, "he is not a hottie and I hate him,"

"you sound like you know him," she said

"ding ding ding, yes I used to know him and that is why I don't want to interview that bastard who was being an asshole earlier when I bumped into his car, god...he's...arg I hate him!"

"what? You bumped into his car?"

"yeah…then I was going to apologize but yet he called me bitch, that asshole," she growled

"he sounds mean…" Faye raised her brows

Leigh cocked her left eyebrow at her, "he is really mean,"

Faye chuckled, "oh well, I guess I better get to work and good luck with your assignment girl, looks like you're going to need it,"

"go away Faye," she groaned and Faye laughed as she headed back to her desk.

Do I have to do this? Leigh complained as she opened her daily planner. Might as well get over it, she shrugged and picked up the phone and dialed the number.

"Hello, Paris Mariano's speaking,"

"Paris,"

"Rory?"

"Leigh,"

Paris, on the other line, rolled her eyes, "Rory, Leigh, same thing,"

"fine Rory to you, Leigh to my work,"

"okay so what do you need?" Paris asked

"can't an old friend say hi?"

"Rory, I know you didn't call me to say hi so spill and be quick because I have important things to do,"

"ouch Par, you made it sound like I am not important to you,"

"sorry Rory but I have tight schedule today..." Paris apologized

"alright I got it, anyways I just called to ask for Tristan's firm's number,"

"his firm? Why not Tristan instead?"

"because,"

"that is something you're not telling me," Paris said

"I thought you have a tight schedule,"

Paris rolled her eyes, "alright alright, hold on,"

Leigh waited for a while and then Paris came back and gave her the number

"thanks Paris"

"and good luck with your interview

Leigh frowned, "how did you know?"

"why will you be asking for the number? I know you were not going to call him to catch up old times,"

"how smart," she mocked, "anyways tell Jess I said hi and gotta go,"

"will do, bye," and they both hung up and Leigh dialed the firm's number.

"Hello this is Leigh Hayden of CNN, I would like to make an appointment for Tristan Dugrey...tomorrow is fine...around lunch?...sure, no problem...alright…thanks bye."

"Good morning Mr. Dugrey, you have an appointment with Ms. Hayden from CNN at noon at Coffee Experience," Rhonda, his secretary, told him when he arrived to work

Tristan shrugged at the message since he's been interviewed a lot by reporters. He went to his office and placed his suitcase on his desk and sat down. The woman yesterday was still on his mind, she had attracted him. Her brown hair and blue eyes reminded him of someone but couldn't place who and he could see that she is different from the women he used to date. He could see that she is serious and probably hard to get. But do I know any Leigh? He wondered and went to work.

After few hours, Tristan put down his pen and leaned back against his chair. Rhonda knocked on his door and came in.

"Mr. Dugrey, I just came in to remind you about your appointment and I'll be leaving for lunch," she said

he nodded his head, "alright, see you later," he said and she left. He glanced at his watch, it's already quarter to noon and decided to leave the office.

Rory was busily writing in her notebook while she sat at the corner in Coffee Experience. She was writing down the things she knows about Tristan and she couldn't wait for the hour to be over. He was supposed to be here by now but looks like he's running late. Rory shrugged as she put down her pen and took a sip of her coffee, the door opened and he has arrived. Rory watched him as he asked the waiter and the waiter pointed at her direction and he looked at her before he thanked the waiter.

Rory folded her arms as he approached to her, she watched him and he showed no sign of recognition.

"Ms. Hayden," he greeted

"Mr. Dugrey," she said with a fake smile, "shall we get started?"

"the faster, the better," he said as he sat down across of her

"you're not the only one. Birthday?" she asked as she picked up her pen

"June 24, 1983,"

"siblings?"

"none,"

"status?"

"single,"

Rory raised her brow at him, "what?" he asked

"you're still single?"

"uhuh, why is it hard to believe that?"

She smirked and shook her head as she wrote, "you were a player in high school, and some people expected you to be on a relationship by now,"

"is this how you interview Ms. Hayden? I don't like the way you do your interview, unlike the others. I can't believe CNN allowed you to work for them," Tristan commented

Rory took off her glasses and dropped down her pen, "it's how I want to interview you and I don't give a damn just because you're a high class lawyer,"

"excuse me?" Tristan was angered

"can't believe you really have a low memory," she scoffed as she shook her head

Tristan frowned as he stared at her, he didn't know what she's talking about until he started to recognize her

"Leigh Gilmore," he said

Rory smirked, "now I wonder if you ever had trouble with remembering your ex girlfriends' names then, how about Summer? Do you still remember her? Or Cara, Francie, or Kate, or should I go on?"

"how did you know me?" he asked

"curious much Tristan? Forget about it, let's focus on this and then it's over and I don't have to bother some guy like you," she said as she put back her glasses and picked up her pen

"why lawyer?" she asked

"you're related to Richard Gilmore," he said. Rory rolled her eyes, "yes I am, no more personal stuffs,"

"can't promise you there. I always get what I want. So if I want to know about you, then I am going to make sure I get it from you, and if not, from others,"

"gees, what a nosy snob," she muttered

"I heard that,"

"oh I'm glad you did," she rolled her eyes, "now why lawyer?"

"father wants me to,"

"enjoying work?"

"sometimes, it depends,"

"hmmm, that's all," she said as she looked up to him with a straight face

"that's it? You're going to badmouth me on the rest of your articles huh?"

"and why will I do that? Badmouthing can destroy the person's ideal and even if I want to say that I have to interview a former classmate of Chilton who bumped into my car yesterday and called me bitch, what will people think of you?"

"what did you say?"

"what?"

"did you say Chilton?" Tristan asked

"gees," she rolled her yes

"we were classmates? Come on, I want to know,"

"curious very much," she shook her head, "and I better go. I have another appointment to attend," she said and picked up her stuffs, leaving him behind before he could catch up with her.