Chapter 4

"Welcome to F.F. Law," the secretary said with a smile. But it was hard to feel happy about anything. Work was the only thing I had to keep me sane—and on the elevator ride up here Clarissa decided that this fact made me pathetic.

"You two will be meeting with President Ferret shortly," he informed us, rising from his chair. "For now, I was instructed to give you a tour of the company."

I nodded at the young man, but I was a ball of nervous energy. Somehow Clarissa was practically bouncing off the gray walls.

"I can't believe we work here!" She whispered loudly, pointing to the floor-length window. The people below looked like ants. She nudged me in the shoulder when I didn't respond. "You okay?"

I nodded again; it seemed like the only thing I could do. But I had to get over whatever the hell was bothering me as much as I had to admit that Shadow was the one bothering me. However, the problem with that idea was that I'd have to confront him. And if I confronted him, I didn't know if that would really resolve anything. I'd remain bitter, alone, and even more sexually frustrated. It just there would be no progress no matter what I did.

"Right here we have the publication sector, where they manage..." We passed a room with a couple of cubicles and some people running back and forth as if printing was some sort of sport. We passed a conference room, a lounge/patio area, and then some individual offices.

"These are the offices for some of the associates and the president. Mr. Parrot will be retiring in a few months, so one of you may be looking at a quick promotion. But for now, you two will work in these cubicles." He motioned to the modern room with a few other stations. I could hear conversation behind the shallow wood walls. I assumed they were our co-workers.

"Like I said, President Ferret is eager to talk to each of you." He motioned to Clarissa, the door. "Miss Bobcat, if you would enter first. I hope this tour has been insightful."

"Thanks." My friend gave me a small smile before stepping into the office. I sat down in the seat in front of it, surveyed the bleak walls that were somehow vibrant, the dark-brown wood that colored the doors and lined them and the walls. There were a few motivational posters on the walls, and the space seemed traditional, yet sleek. I had just finished reading the seventh poster (distraction effort), one about motivation, when Clarissa exited. She smoothened her pant leg

"How did it go?" I asked. But I immediately felt silly. We already had jobs here.

"Oh, great," Clarissa said, wrinkling her nose. "Just no action yet. I have to go organize some court-files and see which one's 'cater to my strengths'."

"But you ace everything."

"I know." She sighed before walking off. "Have fun."

I could rant on about how that was impossible, and how I didn't like her unwarranted sarcasm, but President Ferret called me in. I rose to my feet.

"Don't keep me waiting." Oh, great. I started in a sprint. But it was a wasted effort, because boss man was playing on his cellphone. I stood there for about two minute while he played Jewel Quest until he finally looked up. And when he did, he was grinning like a child.

"Hi."

"Hi."

"Sit down."

"Okay."

He looked at me for what felt like an eternity. But I guess that was appropriate because he didn't actually hire me—we'd never met before. It wasn't a bad look or anything really; it was like he was trying to tell if I wasn't an idiot. With a purse of his lips he nodded. An internal sigh escaped me. I had passed?

"So this is Amy Rose." He started flipping through a file, before he set it down. Orange eyes latched onto mine. "It's an honor to have you here."

"Please." I wove my hand. "It's an honor to be working here."

"Tell me, you've lived here before haven't you?"

"Yes."

"Good." The brown ferret man, who couldn't be older than thirty-five, nodded. "That will help you get a feel of the cases we handle. Since this is mostly an urban/suburban area most of the cases we take on are not high profile. Mostly just consumer issues, business disputes, patents—private industries." He laughed, adjusted his tie-less collar. "Sorry if it isn't as interesting as saving the world."

I tried to smile back, but I felt uneasy. Not toward him—but myself. He was right. If I could save the world, why was I so freaked out about talking to Shadow? He was just Shadow. But that sentence didn't even seem possible.

"Miss Rose?"

But he wasn't that great—I mean, he was mean. And even though I had known him the better half of my life, gotten use to his attitude, that didn't mean we'd be compatible. But why did I care? Why couldn't I get him off my mind now?

There was a knock on the table and I immediately looked up. President Ferret. He looked irritated.

"Sorry...Long flight," I tried to excuse myself. But even I didn't believe me.

"Alright." The man shrugged. "Well, it was nice meeting you. I'm sure it'll be a pleasure having you at F.F. Corp. You may follow the secretary. You'll be organizing cases with one of the associates for the time being."

"Okay, thank you."

"And Miss Rose?"

"Yes?" I spun around, my eyes meeting the view of buildings behind him, his rather impersonal desk (and office for that matter), before reaching his. I could have been mesmerized, he had that attractive, rich, bachelor look to him, but I pushed the thought away. Maybe I did need help.

He cleared his throat. "Law isn't easy, and it probably isn't as natural as diving piko-piko hammer first into an enemies face."

"I haven't done that in years—"

"But if you need any help, don't hesitate to ask me." His smile was enchanting. "I'm a big fan of yours."

I would be lying if I said my heart didn't flip. But I shook this feeling off—nodded, and escaped before my twisted mind could ruin my relationship with my boss. I cursed in the hallway.

Relationship?

I cursed again.

Get a fucking grip.

Filing didn't take as long as I thought it would. Of course, it was the holidays, and the associate I was working under, Shelley, was an older, nit-picky woman who insisted on doing everything herself. During a coffee break I even heard her mumbling about me being the next office-tease. Which seemed unlikely—only about five or six women (out of the thirty plus employees) worked here. And Clarissa was the one clawing the guys away.

"Why the hell do we have a no dating policy?" Clarissa whined as we ate our lunch. We were outside of the office building, in the park-area that lead to the business center. Where there also happened to be a sandwich shop. I took an angry bite from mine, tried not to feel feelings.

"Maybe because you'll sleep with everyone." I took a sip of my water, was surprised when Clarissa frowned.

"It's not gonna stop me."

"So you are a whore."

"Shut up."

She started to laugh, and I knew I hadn't inflicted any real damage. But that didn't help anything. I had just started work and I had already gotten (okay, I was also giving) weird vibes from my boss. One of the workers already hated me, and no one hit on me. So I didn't know why she was complaining.

"I think I'm going to like working here," Clarissa decided. "It's not as interesting as I thought it be, but the pay's good. I should have my brother out on bail in no time."

"I'm glad to hear that."

"Are you really?"

I snapped in her direction, expected her expression to be mocking, but she was serious. "Look, I just want you to be happy with everything. Life's good. And I'm getting some info on Shads, in fact—"

Her phone started ringing. "It's Sonic, gotta take this."

"But—" She disappeared as fast as the blue blur on the other line. Meanwhile, I tried to find peace with the silence. But the winter park was lonely, until a couple waltzed by. The sky dimmed when they left. I kicked a rock; it scratched my shoe.

"Life's good, huh?" A sigh escaped me. "For who?"

Maybe it was the eerily peaceful environment, or the fact that I was done with everything, my felt heavy. Sleep came like a light breeze.

"Wake up."

I could smell perfume before my eyes opened. And when they did, I was even more confused. Was I in Clarissa's room? What happened? Wasn't I just organizing files?

Groggily, I rose from where I was, saw a sofa and pillows. Was I late for work? Did I even go to work?

"Shit."

"So that's how you greet me after all this time?"

I spun over my shoulder, but immediately regretted the act. I rubbed my neck. "Cut the crap, Rouge."

"Why hello to you too, Sugar."

"You know I'm not five, right?" I said, rising from the couch, examining the mostly purple room through squinted eyes.

"Of course I know that." Rouge placed her hands on her hips; the act was as sassy as her tone. "Five-year-olds don't dry hump in their sleep."

My eyes widened. "Oh."

"Calm down, I'm only joking." She plopped down on the sofa. Patted it for me to sit closer. "So how's life?"

Like the life-less drone I was, I just stared at Rouge, tried to see how the years had changed her. The last time I saw her was maybe two years ago, though the details escaped me. All I knew was that only she, Sonic, Knuckles, and their kids were there. I didn't remember it going bad, but it wasn't memorable. Long story short, she looked practically the same. Only she had longer hair and was wearing a knee-length dress. But same snarky teal eyes. Same annoyingly sneaky personality.

"I'm living," I replied when I noticed Rouge getting impatient. "Is this your living room? It's good to know who's the man in the house."

"You like?" She stroked the corduroy sofa. "It's all expensive as hell. Upgraded when the twins got off formula."

"But aren't you pregnant again?"

"I am." She patted her slightly protruding belly. "We weren't expecting them. But you know Knux."

"Sure, why not." I moved from my spot, rubbed my head. "What time is it? Why was I asleep?"

"Two thirty-six. And I drugged you—though I might have gone a little overboard." Rouge laughed; it was harsh and full of snark. Surprise. But that didn't stop me from lashing at her.

"Rouge!" I searched around the room, found my purse on the wood floor, my heels next to it. "I'm late for work!"

"Oh that's right, you're a fancy-pants lawyer." Rouge started filing her nails. "How's that working out for you?"

"Not well, obviously." I was about to start smacking my head on the wall when I heard screaming from the other room. Girl screams.

"Stop beating up your sister, Ruby!" Rouge yelled.

"Ok!" the voice that I could only assume belonged to Ruby replied.

"Kids." Rouge shrugged, rose to her feet. "So have you seen angry eyes yet?"

I just blinked at her. How could she be so casual about this? I knew she could be blunt, but this wasn't like asking if I bought her something from the mall.

"Of course I haven't. Don't you have any idea what happened between us?"

"No?" Rouge pouted. "I mean, obviously you ran off to law school. But Shadow's been just as scorny as he's always been." Her eyes then hit mine. It took everything not to fall back from the intensity. "What happened?"

"Nothing." But I knew I had dismissed her too quickly. I shrugged it off, headed toward the door that I prayed would lead out of this hell. "We both agreed that it was better for me to go to the better school." I nodded. "He wanted me to focus on my studies."

"Why isn't that nice of him?" Rouge looked skeptical, but I decided this didn't mean anything. "So what are you going to do about him now?"

Crap.

Feelings of dread surged through me, but I didn't know why. We both knew the answer. Even if I wasn't so sure that I liked it. "I'm going to focus on the job you so rudely pulled me away from."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, Detective Rouge."

She rolled her eyes at me, but something told me it wasn't personal. Maybe she was just irritated that I was a bad liar to both her and myself. But with a shrug, some of the tension in the room evaporated. Only some of it.

"Good," Rouge said after a while, leading me to the front door. "He's dating someone anyway. Nice girl."

My eyes widened, and my only saving grace was the fact I was already facing outside.

"Nice chat," she continued. "When you're not busy, drop by again."

Something told me I'd be dropping by whether or not my schedule permitted.

"Okay."

The world felt colder than it did before.