This one is a little bit shorter, so apologies about that. Been working extra this week for a deadline but still wanted to keep writing something for this. I'll try and do a longer section next time. :)

Fallon stood in line at the coffee shop, shuffling impatiently both out of a deadline she needed to keep as well as a frustration with having to do it at all. But Liam, standing next to her, was determined.

"This is such a waste of time," she muttered to him, checking her phone for the third time since they'd walked in. "Why not just have an assistant or something pick this up?"

"Because," Liam countered easily, "you need my mother to stop hating you. And we both need an excuse to be late to the meeting."

She shot him a look out of the corner of her eye. "I still don't see why we have to walk in together. Wouldn't you rather pretend someone else brought me on board? After all, announcing your faith in someone who's wronged you so seriously sounds pretty risky."

The person in front of them placed their order and stepped aside, so Liam walked up and began reading off of a short list. Fallon waited for her turn to request her own, but to her surprise he already had exactly what she wanted written down, so she just followed him off to the end of the counter after he paid.

Liam turned to face her, picking up where he'd left the conversation to order. "You asked me before what I was doing at CA. And you're right. I'd much rather be focused on the publication of my manuscript. But after what you said to my mother... You wouldn't believe it, but she's been trying. She asked me to return, so I did. And much like this is a challenge for me, I'm not going to throw you to the wolves where she's concerned. She may have recognized your points, Fallon, but she didn't appreciate them."

"Did you ever tell her the truth? About us?"

"No." He paused to collect one of the drink carriers when it was set in front of them, waiting for her to pick up the other before adding, "She doesn't need more ammunition against you. Or me. Let's go."

He walked out without waiting for her, and Fallon just sighed heavily before following after him.

Laura Van Kirk sat at the right hand of the president of Carrington Atlantic's board, waiting to see what her son was up to. She really was trying to more effectively understand 'Liam,' but it was hard when she obviously still wanted to call him Jack. But he had agreed to help transition these new hires in since he had some experience with the company previously. Because of her. The nightmare of an ex-wife that Laura outright refused to admit was the reason behind her change in demeanor when it came to her son.

Regardless of what Liam said about Fallon, she still wasn't convinced about his claim of moving on. She just knew better than to bring it up when they were slowly starting to gain ground.

She looked around the room, taking in the variety of new titles and employees, still mildly confused as to why she had to be there for this when really Max had bought the company. At least Mora wasn't interested in being on site, when she had 'things' to attend to in New York. All the better for Laura, who hated Mora just about as much as she hated Max. Or, used to hate Max? Same difference, really.

A few seats down from Laura sat Michael Culhane, who she was still somewhat bemused by. He was a risk, to be sure, but employed on contract at least, so they were only required to keep him around for a specific amount of time if he messed up too badly – at least, without suffering the hit to their finances that firing him early would cause.

The Head of HR stood to address the group, distracting Laura as she began to move on to the person next to Michael, thankfully sparing her from getting lost in her thoughts for too long. Just as they were getting started on their grand welcoming powerpoint, the conference room's door opened to reveal Liam, carrying several capped coffees.

"Sorry," he began. "The line was unexpectedly long."

Understanding smiles began to appear on various faces – at least, until Liam stopped to hold the door open, revealing the woman he'd brought with him. Laura sat forward in shock; an awkward mirror to Michael's own response at seeing Fallon walk in with the rest of the coffees. That was who the other empty chair was for? Hell no.

Fallon definitely noticed the shock and anger in their reactions, but made unapologetic eye-contact as Liam began passing around the requested beverages.

"Fallon?"

She looked over, surprised to see him gesture to a chair he'd pulled out just before sinking into the one next to it. Well, surprised until she remembered that he was of course always a gentleman, no matter who he was speaking to.

Throughout the on-boarding meeting, Fallon had to fight to keep her attention on the speaker, having met them numerous times during her previous employment at the family company. Doing so, however, allowed her to ignore (for the most part) the glares of both Michael and Laura. Half to distract herself from the discomfort of it, Fallon vaguely wondered after how Liam's step-father, George, was doing. And how ironic it was, even looking back on it, for Laura to have made snide comments about Liam and her when it was obvious that George was much more like Steven and Sam than like Liam. Fallon quite liked George, of course. It was a shame he wasn't the one sitting in Laura's seat. At least he wouldn't have looked ready to tear Fallon's head off.

As soon as they were dismissed, most of the new employees left, heading towards their offices either to make a show of how eager they were to work, or perhaps to avoid the tension. Fallon, however, stayed seated because Liam did. Much to her distaste, so did Laura and Michael. And once the room emptied otherwise, Laura was the first to speak up, her gaze locked onto Fallon.

"I'd say you were brave, but it seems more likely that you're simply insane."

Fallon sat up even straighter, ready to respond, but Liam got to it first. "Mom. Fallon is here because you said we needed a new Director of Business-to-Business Sales. And no one knows this business like her."

"Perhaps," Laura replied. But then she turned towards Michael. "Though I'm deeply curious to know what you think about all of this, Mr. Culhane."

Michael shook his head, arms already crossed in his frustration. "I'd say that Blake knows the company just as well. But he might be less of a liability."

Fallon's eyes narrowed sharply, and as much as she wanted to keep her cool in front of Liam, she knew full well they were a bit beyond that point. "If you had any idea what my father is going through right now, you wouldn't make snide comments about us. Moreover, after what you've done, you have no right to bring him into this. Who's next? Jeff?"

Michael scoffed, pushing away from the table and standing up. "Just stay away from me."

"Gladly," Fallon quipped in return, watching him as he left the room.

Once he was gone, Liam looked to Fallon, confused. "What happened to your father?"

But she shook her head, unwilling to discuss it in front of Laura. He looked over at his mother like he'd forgotten she was there. Wishful thinking, perhaps. Either way, Fallon was suddenly feeling in desperate need of some air. So she picked up her coffee and bag, then stood and looked to Liam. "Can you show me where my desk is?"

He nodded, of course, and led her out of the room – leaving Laura behind to try and figure out what, exactly, her son was up to.

Liam led Fallon toward the elevator, taking her up several floors, to where the Sales and Outreach staff worked. Once there, he pointed out an office for her. It wasn't until they stepped inside that Fallon turned to properly look around – and realized whose office sat opposite hers.

"You're a genius," she said without thinking, deeply genuine in her amazement.

He had to chuckle at that, tucking his hands into his pockets as he shook his head. "The room was sitting empty, so..."

"Assuming Michael will notice pretty quickly, what's the game plan? It isn't like he'll leave his door open for me to just wander in."

"No," he agreed. "But we have time to think of something now that you're back."

Fallon nodded, running her hand along her new desk as she tried not to miss the old office she'd grown so used to. On the other hand, that was where she'd first told Liam goodbye, so at least she was starting fresh. Or trying to.

"I'll come up with something," she promised, sinking into her chair and clasping her hands atop the desk. "And help CA in the process."