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Laura Elliott entered Perry Mason's life like a whirlwind, their introduction through a mutual friend sparking into something more intense immediately. Della noticed the change in Perry even though he didn't say anything in the beginning. She tried to be happy for him, knowing that he needed someone... that her refusal had hurt him, or at least his pride.

He couldn't help looking slightly abashed when he asked her to find a reputable florist for him, although he was kind enough not to ask her to place the order for the flowers. When the lady in question called to express her thanks to her new gentleman friend, Della found herself more interested in the woman than she had a right to be.

Laura expressed a great deal of interest in Della Street too, alone with Perry after her unannounced first visit to his office.

'The way you talked about how efficient she was I thought she would be fifty and plain,' his new girlfriend complained.

Perry laughed her comments off, knowing that if Laura ever found out about his former physical relationship with Della she would explode. Besides, that was all over and he was ecstatic with his new love. Laura was glamorous and personable. She knew all the best people and they went to all the best parties. She stoked his ego and bragged on his accomplishments, even though her little digs about 'criminal law' got under his skin he laughed them off as just being her peculiar sense of humor. She had quickly absorbed the devilishly handsome attorney into her retinue and into her bed. If perhaps she wasn't as... enthusiastic in their bedroom trysts as Della had been... as vocal or as obviously satisfied with his performance... Perry had been lonely since Della rejected him and Laura helped that.

Women were just different, he decided. Perhaps Laura was a little more... refined. He redoubled his efforts to give her pleasure, trying not to dwell on how easily it had come to Della.

Because Della crept into his mind much more often than he would like, flashes of long legs, flushed face, the way she cried out his name... even the simplest of memories, the brush of her hand against his brought unwanted thoughts of the beauty of her face when she screamed his name in ecstasy... the desire to sweep her up in his arms almost overwhelming... Even when he was with Laura, thoughts of Della constantly crept in... So he tried even harder.

Perry certainly couldn't fault Della on her dealings with Laura. His secretary was the perfect lady... the perfect employee. She was always genuinely polite, never overfamiliar... not one tiny sign of jealousy... not one... Even when Laura was just a bit overbearing... not that she ever intended to be, he was sure.

The relationship was three months old - Perry having almost convinced himself that he was so in love with Laura that he couldn't live without her in his life permanently - when the first crack appeared. The cocktail party was enjoyable, the crème de la crème of the Los Angeles legal world there when he happened to walk up behind Laura expounding to a group of her friends. He was a bit shocked to hear his angel speak so viciously about someone else and then angry when he realized Laura was bashing Della Street in the most vulgar of terms.

Laura was contrite when he confronted her; blaming her lapse on the alcohol she'd consumed and just a touch of jealousy. Ever the typical male, Perry puffed with pride at the thought that Laura was jealous of him with other women. He worked extra hard that evening to assure her of his undying fidelity and their relationship continued.

Perry called an exclusive jeweler and made an appointment to look at engagement rings... just in case... He began to contemplate asking Laura to come into his practice with him. Surprisingly she made that suggestion first, catching him off balance. The two of them working together, she explained, could only enhance both of their reputations. If he would just be a bit more selective of his clientele... defend the 'right' people... then he could join her ascendency into the upper echelon of society and prosperity. Oh, and that dreadful secretary would have to go.

He laughed out loud at that, sure that Laura was joking. She'd been around the office often, commented about Della's efficiency and hard work. Why would he get rid of the best secretary he'd ever had?

When Laura had called Della Street low-class and a fortune hunter, Perry began to realize that his angel had another side... a very unflattering dark side. Perry refused to fire Della, Laura flew into a rage and Perry's eyes were opened further to the fact that there was very little that was angelic in Laura Elliott. She was manipulative and deceitful, even threatening to withhold sex to get her way. Laura began issuing ultimatums as if she felt she had every right to and Perry withdrew to lick his wounds and contemplate his future.

Finally the couple sat down together for 'the talk'. Perry knew that Laura was probably expecting a ring and a proposal. He wasn't sure himself that it wouldn't happen. His impulsive proposal to Della had shocked him but it had also made him consider the positives in having a permanent relationship. But as the couple talked... really talked, openly and honestly, the futility of their possible future together became obvious. Laura's ambitions were very real and she didn't try to hide them. Perry had tried to adapt to her demands on his time but she wanted even more... including him giving up his criminal law practice. For his part Perry encouraged her, knowing that she was capable of great things... but finally realizing that her future plans wouldn't and couldn't include him.

"I can't be a traditional housewife, Perry... but we are successful people and I believe that we can be really good together. If you want a baby I'm willing to have one. Voters love a family. We can hire a nanny... a housekeeper. Is that what you want?"

Answering that question wasn't easy. Laura saw this and his law practice as the only major impediments to their relationship and she was willing to negotiate. The words that he had spoken to Della washed back over him. That moment was when he realized that while he cared for Laura she wasn't who he really wanted to be with... not forever.

"No, Laura," Perry answered honestly, "that isn't what I want... at least not at this point in my life. I want to work... I love what I do, Laura

"More than me?"

"I am a criminal lawyer. I enjoy the mental exercise, matching wits with murderers... I enjoy helping people who need my help. I find corporate law boring and tedious. I can't pick only rich affluent clients. I can't change that, Laura, no matter how much it doesn't fit into your plans. I'd resent it... eventually I'd resent you... just as you would resent giving up your plans for me. I care about you, Laura... enough to let you go live your dreams."

"Besides," she observed, "this way you get to keep your steadfast and loyal secretary." Cattiness tinged her voice, but only slightly because deep in her heart she knew Perry was right.

"You have no reason to be jealous of Della." Perry volunteered, knowing that the statement wasn't completely truthful... but he had been faithful to Laura. "She's my secretary and she's my friend. I can assure you that she isn't trying to become Mrs. Perry Mason."

"Men and women can't be just friends, Perry."

"Of course they can. What about you and Greg? Chet?" Perry named several of the young associates at Laura's law firm that were members of her social group.

She smiled enigmatically, that smirk telling Perry more than he wanted to know.

"Good luck, Perry Mason. I expect great things of you."

"And I expect great things of you, Laura Elliott." A shared gentle kiss, a closed door and the romantic relationship was done. Perry left Laura with no regret. He knew that he'd made the right decision. Laura wasn't the woman for him. Della was. Now he just had to figure out how to convince her of that.

For her part Della found dealing with Perry's new flame extremely difficult but she recognized that she didn't have a choice. The woman was snide and catty to her when they were alone but the moment Perry appeared Laura's entire demeanor changed. Della wondered if Perry had told his new girl about their casual arrangement but somehow that didn't seem his style. Della realized that she had defined the boundaries of their non-work relationship, wanting to leave Perry free to find a woman he could have a home and family with. The choice of Laura Elliott surprised her, but then it wasn't her choice to make.

Did she miss her boss? Yes. With his personal life in full swing the long hours at the office had almost become a thing of the past. He still gave clients his full focus but more and more of the investigating after hours was left to Paul Drake while Perry escorted his lady love to this high profile event or that. Della helped Paul as much as possible and threw all of her energy into really getting the new offices in shape.

Did she miss her friend? That answer was also yes. Della hadn't realized how much she enjoyed the casual dinners and dancing, the stimulating conversation... the arguments. Even without the sex, which she missed on an entirely different level. Just seeing her boss first thing in the morning sent her hormones into a spin and it usually took most of the morning for her to pull her full attention back to job and office... not that Perry ever knew. She made damned sure of that.

Mason's enthusiasm was palpable, overwhelming even, so she tried to be happy for him. With extra time on her hands she reconnected with old friends... and then there was Paul Drake. From the moment that he'd met her he had flirted outrageously, always teasing her and asking her out. But once Perry and Laura had burst on the scene his words and actions had grown more and more suggestive. She'd had to gently put him in his place several times, but he always came back for more. There was no way that she was getting involved in another office relationship.

Expecting an engagement announcement - and the subtle hint that she look for another position – at any time, Della was surprised when she received a call from the florist who wanted to verify the cancellation of Perry's twice a week standing order. Her first thought was that perhaps the girlfriend's demands had moved to something more expensive but knowing Perry as she did, he would have added instead of changing. But it wasn't her business.

She couldn't help but notice and be pleased that the phone calls stopped. Perry didn't close himself up in his office anymore. A new case started and he asked her to work late – one night, then two nights... then he didn't ask anymore, they just worked.

Della didn't care for the new client, a plastic gold digger with practiced expressions who was more than comfortable twisting men around her pretty little finger. Her husband was murdered and in trying to protect her politician lover she pulled Perry deep into her vortex of lies. This woman, this Eva Belter, actually scared her more than Laura Elliott ever had, in a completely different way. The woman was obviously manipulating Perry, but he refused to see it... did he? She tried to keep her opinion to herself, she really tried... but Perry pushed and all of her pent up frustration of the last several months boiled over. The wounded expression on his face almost destroyed her. He thought she didn't trust him, didn't trust his judgment. But he was wrong, wasn't he? She did trust him, even though she hadn't shown him that. Could she repair the damage?

Once the client was cleared she'd humbly apologized, tears in her eyes as she clung to his shoulders. He forgave her and she swore, truthfully, that she would never ever doubt him again. Pulling her into his embrace he kissed her, long minutes passing as they held each other, until a cough announced the arrival of Eva Belter.

Della made herself scarce, but not before she heard that woman demand Perry remove Della's lipstick from his mouth. When Perry refused her heart swelled. He really had forgiven her! As she closed the office door behind her Della realized that this was the first time that they had kissed... just kissed... without ending up having sex.

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