A/N: This is my first attempt to write Elsbeth Tascioni. Enjoy! (:

Chapter Thirty-Eight

"A Miss Tascioni is here to see you," Evelyn announced from the doorway and Diane's eyes followed the red headed woman standing outside.

She'd seen her name in her schedule that morning, but she had no idea what was the nature of her visit. Evelyn had told her the woman had been rather secretive on the phone, the word 'weird' had also slipped out, which made Diane all the more curious.

"Let her in," she put down her glasses and sat back in her chair.

"Good afternoon, may I?" her guest stopped in the doorway for a minute obviously waiting for her approval to step closer.

"Come on in, Miss Tascioni," Diane smiled at her encouragingly and observed as the woman entered with two bags in her hand, which she carefully placed beside the armchair.

"Hi, I'm Elsbeth Tascioni," she held out her hand in Diane's direction, who shook it.

"Diane Lockhart, nice to meet you. Please, take a seat."

"Thank you," she replied smiling and sat down, then her gaze fell on something else at once, "Is that your family? You look so wonderful together."

"Yes," Diane smiled, turning around a little to have a look at the photo that had been taken almost a year ago on Emma's birthday. It was probably time to change it for a more recent one.

"I have a little boy, he's five," Elsbeth said proudly, "Already beats me with computers."

"They grow up so fast," Diane sighed, turning in her direction again.

"Yes," Elsbeth replied and stayed silent for a while, "Anyway, you might be wondering why I'm here, I mean I hope you do."

"As a matter of fact I am, I understand that you're an attorney as well."

"Yes, but don't worry, I'm not here to sue you or anything," she joked.

"I'm so relieved," Diane chuckled, she kind of liked the woman already.

"I love your earrings, they go so well with your eyes," she complemented her and Diane found it more sweet than disturbing, it kind of suited her to say something like that.

"Thank you, got them from my husband."

"I wish my hubby would know how to choose jewelry, he's lucky I'm not into them too much."

Diane could see that the woman was rather nervous now, probably not knowing how to bring up the reason she'd come there so she decided to help her a little.

"May I ask what is the exact nature of your visit?"

Elsbeth looked at her for a short while before she opened her mouth again, to close it just as quickly, then she took a deep breath.

"I came to beg, actually," it sounded as if she was joking again, "I'm sorry, I know how that sounds, but it's the truth nevertheless."

"Beg for what?" Diane still had no clue what she was talking about.

"For a job," Elsbeth replied quickly and looked away at once, "I know your firm is new and you're probably not hiring new people, especially not someone from the street, but ever since I came back from maternal leave, I don't seem to find my place at our old firm, I need a new challenge and working for you, it would be like a dream come true," she said these last words looking in Diane's eyes again.

Diane was flattered by her words, it felt good to have a lawyer actually knocking on her door already and she couldn't help hearing Will's voice in her head: "Hiring female lawyers is not an option anymore?" She looked at the woman again, who obviously felt a little ashamed of what she was doing, but she understood her reasons. It was hard to find a job at those times, just as hard as it was to hire good lawyers for a firm that was yet to make a name for itself. The only problem was that she had absolutely no idea what kind of a lawyer this woman was.

"I suppose you've brought your resume," she replied without giving away any of her inner thoughts, she didn't want her to hope too early or lose the hope she might have been carrying inside.

"Of course," Elsbeth rashly picked up one of her bags and after a short search she pulled out a piece of paper.

Diane read through it quickly and she was quite impressed. Her publications alone spoke for themselves and she apparently shared her love for arts as well.

"It looks impressive," Diane said, looking in her eyes and she could see that the compliment brought a small smile on her face, "I need some time to think about it," she added honestly and Elsbeth didn't seem disappointed.

"I understand, just take all the time you need."

"I'll get back to you, by the end of the week."

"That sounds wonderful, thank you. And even if the answer is no, I'm just glad we've met and who knows we might see each other in court?"

"Yes, that's a possibility," she smiled.

"Well then, good bye, Miss Lockhart," Elsbeth said after she grabbed all her stuff and stood up.

"It's Diane," she smiled at her and Elsbeth did the same.

"Good bye, Diane, I really hope to hear from you soon."

"You will."

It didn't take long after the woman had left her office for Diane to decide that she wanted to hire her.