Author's note: Guys! You're the best, thank you all for reading and reviewing the last chapter. I was blown away by your amazing compliments! And now… flashback time to tell you what happened about 1.5 month earlier. Don't hate me for not continuing where we left of, lol! Next chapter, I promise!
Summary: force ma·jeure noun \ˌfȯrs-mä-ˈzhər, -mə-\ 1: superior or irresistible force. 2: an event or effect that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled. Alicia & Will, seven months after she left L/G: Then, our eyes meet. Accidentally. And it makes it all worse.
Thanks: To my beta RomanticSoutherner for amazing tips, patience and motivation and taking the time to correct this chapter despite her inconsistent workschedule and long hours!

Force Majeure

Chapter 4 – Collision
(Flashback to 43 days ago)

You better stop and try to think. Look what you're doing.
– Roisin Murphy, Ruby Blue

Monday, 06:23 PM

I never was a proponent of trying, but both Cary and Brad have a tendency to be overly ambitious. And that resulted in them being convinced we needed the class action that Lockhart/Gardner had started preparing just a few weeks before we left. Precisely half of our clients chose to go with us. Luckily, I wasn't there when Will found out, and Cary took the hit. Then, the clients decided they wanted to get both firms in the preparations, and Cary agreed. And now we're stuck in this mess. Brad with me and Will with his new junior associate Helena on the 27th floor of Lockhart/Gardner.

"We'll do better in negotiations," Will says for the third time now and pushes himself off the table he was leaning against.

"Some of them want to take the shot. You can't just ignore that," I reply.

"They'll benefit from a settlement," he repeats, more annoyed this time. "And we'll get it. Don't force court because you want to make an impression."

"Don't force negotiations to avoid court," I shoot back. He's pissing me off. I get it. I get why he hates me, he has a right to. But this is incredibly frustrating. Maybe that's his purpose, I'm not sure, but it's not very efficient.

He just stares at me, his eyes filled with disapproval.

"I'll do it," I suggest. "Let me look at the files."

"You don't think we already did that?" That's Helena. I frown at her suddenly chiming in. I forgot there are others in the room.

"I think, it won't hurt to check again," I answer her. "There might be a good court case in one of yours."

Will rolls his eyes and sighs deeply. "You know what? Fine. I'm done discussing this."

"Thank you," I say. He doesn't acknowledge it and turns to Helena.

Monday, 06:31 PM

I follow Will going up the stairs to his office to get the files. We don't share a word. He walks fast, doesn't wait up for me and definitely doesn't want to walk next to me.

"They're over there on the couch," he mumbles indifferently and walks to his desk in a straight line.

"Thanks," I simply respond, standing in the middle of his office. It's the first time I'm back here after my resignation.

I really don't want to sit on that couch so I just kneel down next to it and sort through the files I need. Once I got the right ones, I get up.

"How are you?" I ask in an attempt to start a civil conversation, the files clenched against my chest.

He looks up from his laptop and gives me a stare that tells me I shouldn't expect an answer.

"The conference room is free," he says bluntly and looks back to his screen.

The way he's bend over his laptop tells me he's not going to talk any more so I just head out.

Monday, 07:24 PM

"I think, I may have found a contender," I reluctantly announce as I walk back in his office an hour later.

"What? The Kidston one?" He pushes his chair away from his desk. "They'll refuse."

"I could try talking to them."

"Didn't you just hear what I said? They'll refuse."

I don't like his tone. I get that he's upset. So am I. But we have to work together one way or another.

"If we're not going to try, why I am I even here?" I ask and take a few steps into his office.

"You tell me. And I never said I wanted to try. We aren't trying anything."

"Did you even explain the possible benefits of court?" I ask, crossing my arms across my chest. His behavior is starting to bother me by now. "You're disfavoring your clients."

He shakes his head. "It's not in the best interest of the Kidstons. It's not in the best interest of the class action and—"

Really Will? "I'm starting to think you're actually avoiding court," I interrupt him.

"Excuse me?" He stands up at that, clearly offended. I know I'm entering dangerous territory here, but I mean it.

"I think, you're avoiding going to court," I repeat.

The blank look on his face changes to an angry stare straight into my eyes. He leans against his desk and rubs his eyes.

"God, Alicia. You really don't get it—"

"I wouldn't know why else you'd give—"

"—I'm not avoiding anything," he then throws back at me. There's a provocative look in his eyes. "I am not like that."

I know what he's getting at. He doesn't have to say anything else, and he knows that too.

"Ok," is all I say in response.

"Anything else?"

"Nope." I clear my throat and walk over to his desk. "Here," I say and hand him the other files.

As he takes the files from me, his hand touches mine. Unintended, I know. Still, I can't help to flinch at his touch. For a split second, our eyes meet. He notices my reaction. We don't say a word. I'm nailed to the ground, overpowered by the response of my body. For a moment, we do nothing else but stare at each other. Something clicks. As if we just silently agreed on what's going to happen next.

His eyes swallow me up. The energy in the room clouds my mind. Everything around us seems to go up in some sort of fog, and he is the only thing left I can see. He looks a me with that frown, his mouth half open, caught just as off guard as me.

We're just inches apart. I want to pull away, but my body doesn't let me. There's no stopping this.

I lean in. I hesitate for just a second, but it's as if I have no control over my body anymore, and my lips reach his. I kiss him. His lips on mine bring me back to what I didn't allow myself to feel for a long time. It's not a chaste kiss. It's strong and desperate almost.

Immediately, his hands crawl up around my neck, he grips my hair and pulls me closer. My hand clenches onto the fabric of his shirt. I'm starting to feel light headed, and I realize I'm pushing my body against his, wanting more.

His hands find their way to my thighs. Our kiss deepens. He pushes up the material of my dress. Automatically, I get my hands to his belt and unbuckle it. We're not taking our time, or building up to anything. His hands glide over my hips and thighs, but it doesn't feel good.

It doesn't live up to the fantasies I'd been having for months.

Then, our eyes meet. Accidentally. And it makes it all worse. We get a glimpse in each other's souls, and it brings us back to reality. In his eyes, I see the love he once had for me and what I felt for him. But it's clouded by anger.

"I can't do this," Will mutters. His hands are still on my hips as he says that.

"Will—". I start, but I have no idea what to do.

"This was a mistake." He lets go off me and reaches for his own belt.

I quickly smooth down my dress. As I look back up to him, the cold stare that had just disappeared is back and seems stronger than ever.

"You should leave."

I simply nod. Now we are worse. Everything that just happened depreciated the value of what we once had.

There's nothing left. There's too much pain and frustration.

And I'm responsible.

Thank you for reading!

I hope you enjoyed and that you'll see how this matters for what's next! I'd love to hear what you think as always. Ch. 5 is already written so it won't take long before I'll take you out of your misery ;) Thanks again for all your kind words!

Preview for next chapter: Back to the parking garage.