The matradee indicated to Delphine that the reservation was ready. Poised and ready, arriving early at the usual table with the only sound of the servers setting the other tables, cutlery clicking together, the hum of a distant cello played over the speaker, creating a pleasant ambiance. The morning glow from the sun settling over the clear blue sky as a gentle breeze dispersed the falling winter leaves. With the leg draped over her other leg, and her blazer resting on the back of her chair, Delphine waved over the waiter. Ensuring quick service, when Rachel sat down the tea would be served.
Delphine looked down at her watch, and then back up at the door of the restaurant. Right on time, Rachel Duncan walked towards Delphine with a tight lipped smile. Her eyes vacant with a microscopic twinkle as the light caresses the brown irises. Her navy pencil suit soft and tailored, unlike her controlled sharp body movements across the restaurant floor.
"Dr Cormier" Rachel announces as Delphine rises from her chair to greet her with two kisses to her cheek.
Within a minute of the pair sitting down the waiter is out with Delphine's order of a pot of tea. Once the waiter has left Rachel looks around with distaste as she has to pour her own tea.
"I hope you had a good Christmas and, Happy New Year" Delphine smiles across the table
"Yes, it was very pleasant. And did you have a good one?" Rachel asks politely, taking a small sip of tea.
"Oui, but I was ill over New Year so I could not get too merry" Delphine chuckled.
"Pity, I can barely remember doing Auld Lang Syne. After all, isn't that the whole point of New Year to forget our actions, so we can start a fresh" Rachel said with a small smile
"Yes, I suppose. You are right"
"Well of course I am." Rachel replied
"But you did not invite me out for lunch to talk about such trivial matters, so what is it that you want to discuss" Delphine askes directly.
Rachel smiles a genuine smile, her eyes sparkle as she places her cup down on the coaster and looks straight into Delphine's hazel eyes
"Ferdinand" Rachel's lips and tongue flicking over the syllables of his name. Rachel analysed Delphine's facial features and body language in as she spoke his name.
Delphine's spine spiked with interest but also with dread.
"He is very eager to get on top. And there is nothing I detest more, than a man on top. He cannot get on top, do you understand?"
Delphine blinked in understanding as Rachel continued.
"The clone cell line has been questioned; Ferdinand has told Top Side that another team should be brought in immediately to make progress but I have managed to give your team; Miss Niehaus and Mr Smith another month. If however no progress is made in that timescale, that team will be fired and you will go back to being a reclusive Immunologist that is never taken seriously." Rachel blinks widely, tilting her head slightly.
"Why are you telling me this?" Delphine asks bewildered
"Do you really think that Ferdinand will stop at your position? The quicker that he is dealt with the better, for us all." Rachel said with a malicious lace to her tone.
"Leave it with me." Delphine said pushing her chair out to leave.
"Please we shall tell her together" Rachel grimaced as she watched Delphine button up her blazer.
"Dude, watch this" Cosima ordered Scott in the 'chill zone' throwing M&Ms in the air and catching them in her mouth
"…nine, ten, eleven" Scott counted enthusiastically, egging her on.
As the lab door opened, the light fun atmosphere escaped. Scott nudged Cosima's arm urging her to stop as Delphine and Rachel, plus her personal assistant watched them.
"C'mon Scott, quit nudging me."
Delphine cleared her throat. Scott still nudged her, but it was the voice of Rachel Duncan that made Cosima freeze.
"I thought only animals played with their food." Rachel announced with disdain.
Cosima dropped the M&M, meeting the other women's gaze. Her face fell into a frown, eyes automatically rolling at Rachel's comment. Scott stood first, stepping down and extending his hand to Rachel's. Who blatantly ignored the gesture.
"What do you want Rachel?" Cosima asked standing next to Scott, leaning her weight on her left leg with her hand rest on her hip.
With a sinister smile Rachel began talking; Cosima appeared to be actively listening, however as her mind started to process the information, her eyes wandered over to Delphine. She was silently reassuring Cosima with her eyes, the brunette found some comfort in her eyes.
She shut her own eyes as Scott interjected; explaining that a month was not long enough. As Scott argued his case to Rachel, Cosima observed the two business women, who stood side by side. One in a tailored skirt suit and the other in a trouser, their hair similarly styled; straight, sharp edges. Chins raised and pointed out to give the idea that they are taller, even though they both wear four inch heels. Their body language in complete rapport with one another, Cosima felt a thorn of jealously as she noted that Rachel's knuckles of her relaxed arm was brushing against Delphine's. The English woman's body was unconsciously turned towards the French women's, which made Cosima's skin crawl.
"Perhaps Dr Cormier, you should get Dr Nealon down to watch Miss Niehaus and Mr Smith, to ensure that progress is made." Rachel said addressing Delphine.
"That won't be necessary-" Cosima finally said, finding her voice only to be cut off by Delphine.
"I'll send him down, after he is finished overseeing the retinal transplant" Delphine said ignoring Cosima.
"Very well" Rachel nodded her head, as her assistant opened the lab door, with Delphine following behind, she gave Cosima a small smile but the brunette shook her head.
As the heavy lab door slowly shut a large yell of "Fuck" was heard down the corridor.
Delphine took a deep breath, bracing herself before entering the lab. Swiping her card and opening the door to find Cosima gone, Scott sat at his station harvesting the cultures from this morning.
"Where is she?" Delphine asked coming to stand opposite his bench, Scott glanced up but he was too focused on the culture to engage with her.
"She stepped out to get some air."
"So she is smoking" Delphine sighed, eyes rolling up as she pushed back a handful of hair
"She was really pissed; she kept going on about how you would agree to have Dr Nealon babysit us like high schoolers" Scott said giving Delphine his full attention.
"I am not, Dr Nealon will continue overseeing the retina steam cells and transplants" Delphine said leaning on the bench.
"He's not?" Cosima said as she walked through the lab.
"No" Delphine said softly
"So you just said that to Rachel, to get her off our backs" Cosima said, coming to stand inches away from her.
"No, not exactly. I am sending someone in to help you." Delphine said
The brunette growled "Delphine, we don't need anybody to help or assist us. We have been working on this forever; we will have tried everything that they purpose."
"Cosima, this is not up for discussion. Your job and Scott's career is on the line, we need this to work" Delphine fought back.
"Yeah and yours too" Cosima said sulkily
"Tout à fait exact that is why I will be the one helping you." Delphine said without hesitation
"What, Delphine. What about your managerial role as the director?" Cosima asked as mixed emotions swam through her body.
"Shay is working on an excuse for me to away from the office for a month, as long as I stop calling her an ant" Delphine snorts out a laugh, shaking her head to compose herself.
"This is totally crazy Delphine." Cosima shakes her head but a wide grin spreads over her face
"So does this mean team science mega force is getting back together?" Scott asked with a monstrous grin, putting his hand down on the steel table.
Cosima looked at the blonde with a wide eyes and an easy smile, placing her hand on top of Scott's and then Delphine placed her hand top of the pile.
"mega force" Scott shouted as he pushed up their hands as the two girls burst out laughing at their nerdier behaviour.
"Okay we are never doing that again" Cosima giggled stripping out of her red coat, to put her lab coat back on.
"We should have a secret handshake or something" Scott said as his eyes lit up with ideas but Delphine and Cosima in unison shouted a stern "No"
When Scott was about to suggest another idea
"Get back to work, Scott" Delphine tapped the desk, walking to get a lab coat.
"Hey this is my lab; I'm the only one that gets to boss Scott around" Cosima smiled holding a lab coat open for Delphine to slip on.
"Ahh, but as the director of the institute, it is technically, my lab" Delphine smiles
"Well, normally yeah, but since you have given up your director duties for a month, it's still my lab" Cosima said as she straightened the lapels of Delphine's lab coat. Cosima leaned into the warm inviting body; she placed a hand on the French woman's shoulder
"Don't worry though; I'll still let you, boss me around in the bedroom." Cosima husked into her ear.
Cosima felt a great satisfaction as she strutted away swaying her hips seductively, as she left a dumbstruck Delphine, or so she thought.
The brunette felt a pull on her wrist as her body was pulled back into the French woman's, the brunette did not have time to comprehend or retort as Delphine's lips pressed against her own, in a urgent heated, passionate kiss. Cosima's mind caught up with what was happening, her mouth moved against Delphine's.
Their lips moving effortlessly and lovingly together. Noses brushing as they parted inhaling each other familiar perfumes.
"Working together, practically living together. I like this year, a lot" Cosima smiled with her arms firmly wrapped around Delphine's neck.
"Je t'aime vraiment beaucoup" Delphine brushed her nose against Cosima's skimming her lip with Cosima's
"I love you" Cosima said, drawing their lips back together in a deep kiss.
Scott cleared his throat, getting louder and louder until the pair stopped making out "Shouldn't you guys get to work"
Cosima turned to Delphine, who gave her a knowing glance "Why don't you take the rest of the afternoon off"
"Yeah you could get the guys around for a game" Cosima smiled broadly.
"Fine, but no sex on in or on my workstation" Scott said firmly
"You got it buddy." Cosima saluted him as he grabbed his jacket and bag.
"Now where were we" Cosima grinned turning into Delphine capturing her lips once more.