Disclaimer: see chapter 1

'What the hell is she babbling on about?' Kendall sighed – she was really going to have to start bring ear plugs to the office so that she could block out the noise Babe made every time she opened her mouth?

"Or what would you think about redesigning the spritz bottles – some kind of fun, flirty theme?" Kendall passed by, pretending to be deaf.

"Or even better, what if we came up with a line for the pre-teen girls? That would be a great seller, right?" Kendall was wondering if she could shove her keyboard down Babe's throat so that she would shut the hell up. She looked at her watch, wondering when the hell Simone and Dani were going to get here. She needed backup or alibis – she hadn't decided which yet.

"Kendall, I know you hear me. I would appreciate you not ignoring me, if that's alright with you." Kendall whipped around on her heel and glared at Babe.

"Fine, you don't want to talk to me about Fusion, fine. Let's talk… oh, how's Zach doing? I haven't seen him around much, but the last time I saw you two, you looked pretty good together…"

Kendall just shook her head, begging Babe to quit talking.

"You don't look so good."

"I think I look fine."

"Well, did you have a hard night? Were you out protecting Julia Santos from the bad guys?"

"I was held up at the bank."

"Why are you doing this? I wish you would just give this up. You're not bulletproof."

"This whole protective thing, it's good, I like it."

"I don't know why I bother. You don't even listen."

"I listen. But I don't do what you want. And why should I? You never give anything back."

"Well, I want to."

"Yeah? So what is it? What do you want to give to me?"

"I want to…"

"Would you like to whisper it to me?"

"I want to -- to give you the option to end our marriage." God… he smells good…

"Oh. This business arrangement works for me."

"But I'm having someone else's baby, and that might be embarrassing for you."

"Don't worry about my image."

"Well, you said -- you said that it's up to me whether our marriage ends or when our marriage ends, so I'm changing the terms. Given the whole surrogacy thing, I mean, you should have the right to end this whenever you want. So just say the word. You can fly to the islands right now."

"I don't want to divorce you, Kendall."

"… and you two looked so happy at the ball, but he's not been by to take you to lunch or hasn't sent flowers, so I was just wondering…"

The elevator opened and Dani and Simone finally arrived. "Thank God" Kendall yelled at them, grabbing her purse off her desk. Simone and Dani looked at each other and back at her.

"Kendall, what's…"

"I just… I can't listen to that TWIT babble on and on anymore. She's all yours now! I need… just call me on my cell if you need me!" And Kendall took off…

TBC…