Hope you all enjoy! Cross your fingers that college apps will suddenly become less painful, so the next chapter can come sooner :)
Disclaimer: If any of this were mine, many many many things would be different.
Anna headed for the small office she occupied opposite Mary's palacial one.
"You're late this morning."
"God, Mary! Don't do that." In her chair lounged the one and only Mary Crawley, observing her manicure. "You nearly gave me a heart attack."
"Well, I just thought I'd come to you."
"Sorry, I got hung up at the front desk trying to save the new Visual Manager from Miss O'Brien."
"Oh, I passed him on my way up."
"And you left him there?"
"It's an initiation of sorts. We all have to learn to deal with the she-monster if we want to get to the offices."
"Still." Anna smiled at her friend. "What'd you think."
"He looks like the exact opposite of what I asked Papa to hire. He's basically Mr. Watson from twenty years ago."
Anna frowned. "I thought that he seemed nice."
"Yes, and vanilla ice cream is nice. But it has no place in fashion."
"Well I hardly think it's fair that you haven't even spoken to him yet and you're comparing him to ice cream. At least give him one meeting before you make him into anymore desserts."
"Fine, but only for your sake." Mary raised her eyebrows knowingly, fully aware of Anna's soft spot for underdogs. "Anyway, we'll need the decisions for the fall season finalized by tonight, so we can review at lunch and see how everything's going."
"Yes, ma'am."
"I thought we clarified I'm still very much a Miss."
"It just doesn't have the same ring to it."
"Anna, do remember I'm your boss."
"Yes, miss." The two laughed as Mary headed out of the room.
An impromptu meeting was called that afternoon, Mr. Bates knew for his grand debut. He could feel his palms start to sweat as he followed Robert into the meeting hall. He needed people to like him here, or at least not mind being around him. He needed to get this right.
Most everyone was already there. Mr. Bates found himself heaving a sigh of relief when he spotted long blonde hair towards the middle of the room. At least one encouraging face would be present.
"Everyone, may I have your attention." Robert Crawley was a softer figure now than when he and Bates were close friends, but his voice still commanded a room. "This is Mr. Watson's replacement, Mr. John Bates. I've known him quite a long time now, and I've seen just how good is work is. So be kind."
Mr. Bates knew Robert was pulling his leg a bit, kidding with everyone in the room. Still, it made him rather nervous to hear his new boss tell his new colleagues to be kind to him. What made it worse was that one man towards the end of the table was scowling in what was undeniably his direction. He had a feeling that man wasn't one to give kindnesses, even for Robert Crawley.
The rest of the meeting was a series of updates, partially for his benefit but also in the vein of the usual company meetings. Bates watched everyone as best he could without staring. The man at the end continued scowling. Robert's daughter Mary was poured into a leather dress and looked every inch Anna Wintour ready to take him out at the slightest misstep. He could see already that she was a force to be reckoned with in the business. Anna was making notes and helping the meeting along, still with a small smile playing on her lips. Every once and a while she'd glance and him and grin. Thank God for her.
The meeting ended with little fanfare and he made for the door, only to be caught next to Anna.
"I didn't know you were friends with Mr. Crawley."
He quirked an eyebrow. "You didn't ask."
"Fair point," she laughed.
"The products for this season are finalized today, right? Maybe we could meet tomorrow so I could start organizing the next display."
"That would be good. Just send me an email." She smiled at him one last time and then walked away, her kitten heels clicking quickly against the marble.
Mr. Bates had a friend.
