A/N: All from Kelsey's POV kinda long but sets up some drama for Liza and Charles in the next one. It was also fun to write from Kelsey's perspective, I know she can get a lot of hate and I do agree she can be selfish and immature but I still root for her.

And thanks for anyone that's still reading I know this thing is silly but it's kind of therapeutic to write, helps with the passage of time. Can you believe it's already been one month since the season 5 finale??

Kelsey

Friday...Finally. It had been a week of Monday's and every day had brought a new WTF challenge. Everything had seemed so easy when she'd taken over almost six weeks ago. Quinn had had so much confidence and faith in her and in Millennial there was no way she could fail. She'd made changes in vendors and cut a lot of excess to save as much money as possible. But things are never as simple as they seemed. She knew how to edit a bestseller, she'd done it multiple times, but being the publisher...being the boss was not something that came naturally to her.

Today was a turning point though, because after weeks of hearing about how perfect Charliwas from Diana and even Liza occasionally, today was her last day in the office. Kelsey was sure she'd have to deal with little miss Harvard outside of Millennial especially since she'd wormed her way into Josh, Liza, and even Maggie's good graces also Lauren had finally signed her as a client. At least she'd be free of her in the office. Now if only she could shake the ghost of Charles Brooks then she'd be able to really boss it up.

She was sitting next to her main source of irritation now. Charli was typing what looked like a novel on her phone in one hand and talking a mile a minute on the phone in her other hand. Kelsey thought it was rude of Charlotte to ignore her, but in reality she was also glad she didn't have to make small talk. They were on their way to her loft apartment, she doubted seriously that she was going to rent from someone she could barely stand, but she'd agreed to look at the place for Josh. He'd grown fond of the girl and Kelsey could not understand why. Sure she was cute enough, she guessed, but she also came with a lot of baggage. Hardly worth it if you asked Kelsey. Suddenly Charli is talking louder and she drops the phone she was typing on down to the space between them in frustration.

"I'm not going to fight you on this Bobby, I'm going to handle the arbitration...because he's my family...doesn't matter we both know Pauline's lawyer will bend you over his knees and spank you like the man child you are I'm the best chance for winning and you know it...ugh I'm not arguing with you about this...tell Julia I said hi and I send my love...just say it...bye" she drops her 2nd phone down near the first. If Kelsey were a better more empathetic person she would have asked what that was about but she decided to steer clear of that hot ball of anger. They sit in silence for a few minutes until Charli leans towards the driver and points to the building where her loft is. Apparently waze always directs people to a building two blocks passed the correct one. They stop and Charli undoes her seat belt and gives Kelsey her best fake smile, Kelsey knew it was fake because she'd actually seen her real smile a few times and it had irritated her because her smile had been like sunshine and peach cobbler. Warm and sweet.

"You ready to see your new home?"

"I'm just checking it out, I can't make any choices without Lauren."

"Of course, lets go." They exit the car and Charli escorts her towards the very chic building to their right, Kelsey had thought they were going to the run down looking building to the left. Her budget was so low she'd expected a dump. Charli saw her looking at the decrepit building and offered a quick explanation. "Yeah that place is a dump, but it's privately owned and monitored by a great security company, so no squatters or drug deals happening. It's completely safe the owner is personally attached and just can't bring himself to tear it down. Here we are" they reach the building and a doorman comes out opening the door for them.

"Ms. Charli is that you! I ain't seen you in two damn years! Are's ya home fer g'd now?" The doorman is old round and very sweet, Kelsey smiles at his friendly demeanor and instantly likes him.

"Hey Horace! What are ya doin', I thought you were going to retire last year?"

"No'em, Lacy Sue...well she ain't doin' so good. So me and the missus we're both still working. She done cleaned up your place real nice you just missed her."

"Well dang!" Kelsey noticed that Charli almost seemed to pick the old mans accent just barely maybe she'd picked it up when she'd lived in Tennessee and it was just coming out more with Horace the doorman? "And I hate to hear that about Lacy, you let me know if there is anything I can do, ok?" He nods solemnly and finally notices Kelsey standing there, a smile as big as Texas jumps on his face.

"Hidey there ma'am, you a friend o' miss Charli's?"

Kelsey was about to answer no, she was no friend of miss Charli's but Charli beat her to it.

"Horace this is Kelsey Peters, she might be renting the place out from me." The man looked sad that Charli appeared not to be coming home, but he still treated Kelsey with the utmost respect and friendliness.

"Might' fine establishment we have here, your going to love miss Charli's place she did it up real fancy." Kelsey smiles and nods at him as Charlotte ushers her up the stairs, once they are out of ear shot she explains that Horace is the daytime doorman/building manager. His son Brad was the night time doorman and his fathers back up. In reality Brad did most of the building manager duties since his dad was getting up there in his age. There was also a back up doorman-Richard but he only filled in when Horace or Brad couldn't be there. Susan, Horace's wife of 42 years was the buildings maid, maid service wasn't required of the tenants but Susan was the best and she was working to help pay their sick daughters medical bills. When they'd reached the top of steps Kelsey felt like she knew the whole clan.

She walked in and was shocked by how modern and sophisticated everything was, but there was also undeniable character to the loft. It didn't ooze artsy bohemia like Maggie's loft or hipster douche like Josh's place but it was kind of perfect for Kelsey. It reminded her of Lauren's parents house or Thad's sleek apartment, which had been the best thing about him. This was a young successful executives place, this was going to be her new home! Then it hit her there was no way she could afford this place with its expensive furniture and stainless steel appliances...and the view! She could see just how beautiful the city was when the sun set down on it thanks to the floor to ceiling windows! Still there was no way she could afford it even with Lauren paying half. Yeah she'd just gotten a big pay bump but, she now knew that Charles wasn't living on his payroll as Empirical publisher alone. No way he could afford that brownstone and the place in Pound Ridge. He was living on family money, same family that had bought the this no doubt. She tells Charli she loves it but she can't afford it, and heads for the door not wanting to stay any longer it'd just make it harder to leave.

"I haven't told you how much the rent is yet?"

"I know my limitations, and we passed them $3000 dollars ago." Charli rolls her eyes and pulls a lease agreement from her briefcase. Kelsey takes it mostly because she curious to see exactly how much a place like this would be. Her eyes nearly pop out of her head and she has to reread the monthly rent amount over three times before she finally looks up to Charli her mouth open slightly in disbelief. "Is this a typo?" She asks incredulously. Charli looks at it and shakes her head no. "Are you crazy?"

"No, I don't think I am, but crazy people don't know, or think that they are crazy. So I guess I could be?"

"What's the catch?"

"No catch Kelsey, you and Lauren need a place to stay and I don't want to leave Chucky right now. And honestly this place has never felt like home, I bought it under duress and Pauline did all the interior decorating so it doesn't fell like home to me at all. Ya know?" She did get that, as much as she's loved living with Josh it was his home not hers and she could see herself here. Having dinner parties and hosting authors it was perfect. She looked around and noticed that there really wasn't any personal things of Charli's. Except her framed degrees and a framed picture of her with the Easter bunny...she points and asks if Charli is one of those weirdos that gets off to people dressed as stuffed animals. "What? oh that," she laughs and shakes her head no "but furry's need love too." She plucks the picture off the wall still smiling ear to ear and stuffs it in her briefcase."This is my favorite picture of me and Chucky." She looks up and earnestly asks Kelsey if she'd like to join her for lunch. She was meeting Liza and Diana they were sending her off for her last day. "Come on you can sign the lease there, call Lauren she could join us too." She agreed only because she doesn't want to seem rude and they leave together.

Liza and Diana are already there when they arrive, Liza is genuinely happy to see Kelsey with Charli and they sit down for a pretty great lunch. When Charlotte isn't stealing Liza away from her or being the office goody two shoes she's actually pretty fun company. They all laugh exchanging office stories, Liza vs the copier, Diana and the mail clerk, Kelsey's Goddess cup mishap (she didn't say that it was Liza who'd been the one to get it out but the look Charli shot Liza let Kelsey know that'd she'd figured out who the nameless person in the story was) they were all on their third glass of wine-except Charli she was still nursing her first glass- when Pauline coming from nowhere interrupted their fun.

"I'm glad you can sit there and laugh with the woman who stole your precious Chucky away from his wife and kids." Pauline was talking to Charli but looking at Liza. Kelsey averted her eyes and Diana stood defend Charlotte and Liza.

"Pauline, always a treat but we're having lunch I'm sure you can catch up with Charli later." Pauline ignores her and lays into Charli again.

"I also know that you're the reason mediation tanked today, Charles didn't have a leg to stand on until you prepped him. Now we're going to arbitration, hope you enjoy breaking those little girls hearts just so you can play lawyer young lady." Liza stands this time.

"Maybe we should just take a beat, we're about to leave."

"I don't need your opinion, concubine-" oh hell no Kelsey flung her napkin down and shot up ready to pull that bottle blonde to the ground, no one talks to Liza that way. It's like yelling at a defenseless kitten! Charli beat her to it though.

"Enough, this is not the time or place Pauline you'll have your say. I prepped Charles, only because I wanted you two to settle in mediation honest. But you had to know threatening to take the girls away would ignite a fire in Chucky, you started this and I can finish it, let's be civil. Okay?" She's calm trying to not escalate the scene. Pauline looks around realizing she's made a fool of herself, but she's still unwilling to yield her imaginary high ground.

"Maybe so, I guess we'll see." To Kelsey she smiles sweetly and says "I should have the next two chapters to you by Monday and they're great the protagonist just lost her parents and is moving in with an unfamiliar relative, their relationship is tumultuous until they finally bond over old M*A*S*H reruns. I think I've finally hit my stride, getting into to head of such a young girl has been therapeutic. The pages feel like your reading young Andie's diary. I'll email you. Kisses." She leaves and Kelsey is met with confusion from Liza but its Diana that asks

"We dropped her second book right?"

"We did" Liza says directly to Kelsey. "What's Pauline talking about?" Kelsey fidgets trying to avoid Charli all together. She risks a glance in her direction and she sees Charlotte begin to piece everything together.

"Pauline, came to me three weeks ago, she left Random House after some disagreements over her new book."

"It's about me and Chucky isn't it? We bonded over

M*A*S*H reruns it was our dads favorite show...that part about the diaries-" Charli bolts up from her chair and leaves them Liza and Diana looking to Kelsey for answers.

"Pauline never specifically said Charli inspired her protagonist. She sold it as a modern retelling of To Kill a Mockingbird and I swear it feels like I'm reading about Scout and no one has ever come close to pulling off what Harper Lee did so iconically with her Scout." Liza shakes her head disapprovingly.

"That's why it's iconic and a classic Kelsey, it can't be replicated. Especially by Pauline's lazy writing. I have to call Charles and get him a heads up about Charli who knows where or what she'll do." She leaves Kelsey alone with Diana.

"I thought we learned our lesson with Pauline and her gotcha books?" She isn't angry but it's so much worse than anger it's disappointment in Kelsey. Her gut had told her not to go near that book it smelled of pettiness and poor prose, but she hadn't been able to trust her gut since she'd been promoted. Liza came back just then.

"Charles' phone is off, and Charli is gone. I'm going to go over there, he deserves to know another tell all is being written about him."

Kelsey watched her leave and then later shared a silent cab back to the office with Diana. She'd had such hope for today. She wondered what her chances were for getting Charli's apartment now...she should have signed the lease earlier...

End