Kristy, the BSC and Thomas Enterprises

by PrincessSkywalkerOrgana

26year old Kristy is the Chairman of a succesful corporation. She is friends with the other BSC members and planning a reunion that coincides with the opening of Thomas Advertising. She also is parenting Karen, who on Watson's orders is interning at TE.

2. Chapter 2

Kristy looked at her watch. She wanted to draft some memos and e-mails before the evening. "Mom, I need to get going."

Then it occurred to Kristy she had not announced the TA to her family.

"Thomas-Brewers and honored guests." Kristy said, grandly, tapping a fork on a drinking glass. "I have an announcement."

Karen giggled, guessing what was coming.

"Kristy Amanda Thomas's wandering eye is taking over. I am starting a new business, Thomas Advertising."

Watson and Elizabeth exchanged a long look. "Plans?"

"I have the money, I have contacted investors and will be doing a good amount of investing myself. I have a couple customers lined up. Anastasias, TE, Giggles n'shift, I am working on Krystals' Jewelers."

Watson relaxed. "I will be an investor."

"No fair. Why will you invest in Kristy's company but not in my bicycling business." Andrew whined.

"Because Kristy has a plan and a record. I got my investment back on TE within two years and am currently making a profit so I am now just reinvesting the money I made off of her."

"Besides, your bicycling business is…. I will invest up to 100 in it. If you get your grades up, 200." Elizabeth added.

An idea struck Kristy. "Watson, can I have a word?"

Watson walked off with Kristy. "You are going to retire soon and I am going to need some help if I keep diversifying. I want to build up TA and TE is Kristabilized. Would you be willing to take the position of Managing Director of the Thomas Umbrella and spend time at the company I am not at."

"Kristy, if you need it I will take it. But see how things run without me. I like my position of the Board of Directors but I do not know if I can take a day-to-day position."

Kristy smiled at Watson. "Try to do it on your own." Watson advised. "One less executive's salary to pay. If you can't, once TA takes off, you will find excellent people."

"Thanks, Watson." Kristy smiled at Watson, the term father was applied to him wholeheartedly. She never would do what she did earlier, lie to Watson to protect Patrick Thomas. She had even considered changing her last name to make that official, but then she had decided against it for multiple reasons that included Thomas gave her individuality.

Kristy's cell-phone rang. "Kristy, I am sorry to bother you. I was checking the messages and I saw a message I think you needed to hear. Your fath-Patrick, is in the hospital. The San Diego Central Hospital called because your work number is all he could give them."

"Thanks Jayden. I will call you back if I need to. Else have a great Sunday and I will see you tomorrow."

Kristy closed herself on the deck, trying to steady her hand. It wasn't that she was worried about Patrick. She was over those days. Over him. She remembered the day that marked the turning point vividly. She had been in her office working on some documents…

"Yes, Jayden."
"Ah, Kristy. There is a guy who claims to be your father. Not Mr. Brewer. His name is Patrick."

Kristy's eyes got dark with anger. The man who had not bothered to RSVP or send a congratulatory card when she had graduated with her M.B.A though she had sent him an invitation to her graduation ceremony and party was now calling on her day of success. The day after her success story was printed in newspapers across the country. She was under no illusions as to why he had called when he did.

"Hey, ah Kristy, it is Patrick."

"Hello." She had said, coolly.

His voice was very shaky. "So, ah, congratulations."

"Thanks."

Kristy could tell her coolness and the fact that she wasn't giving him any openings was making him very nervous.

"How is Zoey." Kristy asked, finally.

"Oh, her… it didn't work out.."

"She left you didn't she? Good for her. Finally saw what a no good low life you were.." Kristy had said coolly.

"Kristy, I am your father!"

Kristy laughed. "You have done nothing to earn that title, let alone any respect. If you will excuse me I have work to do."

"My phone number is 989-515-5235. Give me a call, we should catch up. "

"I don't think I will ever use it. But this is the first time you have given me your phone number."

Kristy hung up and had stared stonily at her wall for five minutes.

Kristy found herself staring similarly, her arms crossed across her chest. She recrossed her arms in nervousness. "This is ridiculous." She muttered. Two minutes later, she dialed the number for the hospital. "I am Kristy Thomas, Patrick Thomas's biological daughter."

"Your father has no insurance and will need intensive care. He crashed a car into a highway barrier."

"Racing a friend, no doubt."

Kristy didn't let the hospital tech say anything. "I will cover up to 10,000 of medical costs above what the hospital gives to a guy without insurance." Kristy read off her credit card number.

Kristy hesitated and then gave the tech her number. "Please see if the doctor would be willing to give me updates."

"Absolutely, Ms. Thomas."
Kristy walked into the main room. "What took you so long?" Elizabeth asked.

Kristy hesitated. "Patrick got in a car accident. I am picking up his hospital tab."

"Is he all right?" Elizabeth asked.

"Well, the tech said he is going to require a lot of treatment."

Elizabeth nodded. Her expression showed that she felt some compassion and pity for her ex-husband.

The phone rang again. "Doctor… how is he." Kristy's face hardened. "Yes….don't worry ma'am, it is not really a surprise. I will pay all but two thousand dollars of the cost."

"What is it?" Charlie asked.

"Patrick only told the tech to call me the morning he was being discharged. He has been there for a week now."
"aka once he needed someone to foot the bill."

"Yes." Kristy said quietly.

"Kristy, are you all right." Elizabeth asked, piercing look.

"I came to terms with the fact that he was not a father I could look up to or respect a long time ago, mom." Kristy said, discovering, with a jolt that she meant it-she felt no anger or malice towards him.

"Good for you." Elizabeth said, quietly, patting her eldest daughter on the shoulder.

"On that note… I really need to get going. Kar?"

"If someone can drop me later…."

"Sammy and I can." Charlie said. "Really need to go?"

"Charlie, couldn't you have dated someone with another name so we wouldn't have the problem of the competing names." Andrew grumbled jokingly.

"Thanks, Charlie." Karen said, ignoring her brother completely.

"Yeah." Kristy said. "I need to give the information about the internship to career centers at nearby Universities. It will be an educational opportunity for students."

"Being with Kristy? Yeah but it is going to be insane amounts of work." Sam said.

"Well, it will weed out the people who are truly interested in business and those that are not. That will make businesses more interested in hiring those who finish Kristy's program and thereby make the work worth it for students." Watson said.

Kristy smiled and then waved good-bye.

Kristy was glad that Karen had decided not to come back then, it made Kristy feel much less guilty about immersing herself in her mounds of work.

As Watson had predicted, the number of applications grew and most of those applications were filled by ambitious business students who knew this was a good opportunity. Kristy had made it abundantly clear in her interviews that this was not an easy resume boosting position. She sincerely said that it would be rewarding for students who worked hard, and the worst time of their lives for slackers.

Two students, Kavita Saxena, and Roger Flumens had exceeded her expectations, which said something because of the high expectations to which she held herself and those around her.

"Jayden, will you ask Kavita and Roger to come in." Kristy said, three weeks later.

Just three minutes later, Kavita and Roger came inside. "I apologize for how long it took us to come." A slightly plump girl dressed smartly in a business suit said. "We were helping some of the other interns with excel."

"quite all right." Kristy said, comfortably.

She indicated that Kavita and Roger should sit down. "You two have done excellent work these past three weeks. Seriously, especially in comparison to-to some of your fellow interns."

Kavita and Roger smiled.

"As I said in the interview, I want to reward hard work with some real world experience. It hasn't been so long since I was in your shoes and I know how valuable and exciting that can be. There is a serious time conflict as the unprofessional people at the Advertising Association of Stamford decided to move their event to tomorrow evening from the day after. Ms. Kishi has an opening for some of her art work at the Ann Arbor Art Fair so cannot be there. I want to be here, plus I thought this might be good experience. So anyway, what I need you two to do is tomorrow afternoon, at about 1 go to Claud's house and go over the presentation she has put together. Familiarize yourself with the art work, she has business cards, etc. Then at about 3:30 you need to leave for Stanford. The Association has tables for each company and prospective clients will walk around. Potential clients will arrive around five, and the event will finish at about 8."

Kristy paused to see if either of them had questions.

"I will reimburse for gas, of course."

"Thank you so much for the opportunity!" Roger said, speaking for both of them.

"Thank you for your hard work." Kristy replied. "Jayden will have the final details for you. Also, don't come in tomorrow. You will have long enough of a day as it is, just go straight to Claud's."

Kristy decided not to add that they should take creative liberties with the presentation. She wanted to see if they had the initiative to do it on their own.

"Claud." Kristy called. "Roger and Kavita'll do it. Be ready for them."

"They know not to mess with my art right." Claudia asked, still a bit skeptical.

"Claud. They are the two best interns I have. Just tell them nicely and politely."

"Sure. By the way, MA called. She tried to get a hold of you, you must have had your phone off. The reunion needs to be moved up two weeks, Anna's orchestra is playing and Abby would like to go."

"Fine by me. TA is going ahead of schedule."

Claudia groaned. "That means you haven't slept."

"To quote a great movie, "sleep is for the weak."

"How many clients?" Claudia said, after letting out a gusty sigh. "I do have to prepare the artistic parts of their campaigns. Have you hired a marketing major yet?"

"I will have Kavita and Roger bring a detailed breakdown." Kristy said, ignoring the second half of Claudia's statement.

"Isn't that too much work to give the two."

"No." Kristy laughed. "Jayden will prepare it, Kavita and Roger will bring it."

"Oh. Okay." Claudia said.

"You sound like you're busy. Get back to work. Give me a call if you want, else I will talk to you tomorrow."

"Bye."

"Bye."

Kristy hung up the phone and chuckled. An idea flitted into her head, but then she dismissed it. then she sighed. There was some use for nepotism. Kristy dialed the phone closest to Kavita and Roger, who shared a desk. "Would you mind taking Karen with you? Be frank. Her instructions will be to just help you. This will free both of you to do some actual hands on work and give her some experience….thanks, Roger."

Kristy decided not to tell Karen til tonight so that Kavita and Roger would have a chance to think it over as well.

At 5 Kristy called Karen. "Kar, wanna grab dinner before I drop you home?"

"What time are you coming home?"

"I will probably be back at 8."

"Cool." Karen said. "I'll be at your office in ten minutes."

"I am looking forward to seeing you." Kristy said.

"Jayden, I am taking off for about an hour. I'll have my phone." Kristy said.

Kristy purposely walked out of her office so she could mingle with employees. "Karl! How are the kids?"

Kristy spied Karen coming. "Well, have a nice night. I will see you tomorrow."

"Good night."

Kristy drove Karen to Qdoba nearby. "Ms. Thomas!" the owner said, shaking hands with Kristy.

"Hey, Vanessa." Kristy said, Vanessa Pike worked at Qdoba during the summer and was very close to making manager.

"Hey Misty Kristy." Vanessa said, mimicking her younger days when she wanted to be a poet.

"Misty? I guess that is better than Risky." Kristy laughed.

Kristy went to sat down as Karen and Vanessa began to chat full speed. Kristy chuckled. She loved this about Stoneybrook, the community feeling. It might be cliché, but she loved being in a town where she had known many of the people since she was a kid. Hey, she had baby-sat for most of these families and therefore knew the kids quite well. This was a reason she would resist leaving Stoneybrook with everything she had.

Karen sat at the table, flushed. "Have a nice chat with Vanessa?"

"Yup." Karen said, settling in.

It was hard for Kristy to keep her resolve not to tell Karen about going with Roger and Kavita. But she knew it was still the right thing to do.

Just before they went to bed, "Kar, I might have an assignment for you later on. But stay home for the morning."

"Okay." Karen said, curious.

Kristy called Kavita and Roger from her desk at 10 AM, hoping they could have slept in a bit since they did not have to come into work today. "Hello." Kavita answered, her voice a bit tired.

"Oops." Kristy thought. "Maybe I should have called a bit later."

"I willl call back."

"Oh, Ms. Thomas." Kristy could hear a note of panic seep into Kavita's voice. "I thought you said to get to Ms. Kishi's by 1. I am sorry if I am late."

"Oh no. I was just making sure that you wouldn't mind taking Karen still."

"Not at all." Kavita said, relieved.

"Well, I will have her meet you at Cl- Claudia's at 12:55 then." Kristy said, stopping herself from using the nickname Claud.

"Ms. Thomas, I wouldn't mind picking Karen up either. Roger is meeting me, we thought we would save gas money by carpooling."
"If you are sure. Her cell phone number is 203-323-5555."

"If she could be ready by 12:30."
"She will be ready and on the front doorstep." Kristy promised. "Though please call if you are running late."

"Absolutely."

"If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call. Otherwise, I will hear from you right after you leave the event."

"Absolutely. Thank you, Ms. Thomas."

"Good luck, Ms. Saxena."

Kristy called Karen. "Karen, make sure you are on your best behavior, understood?"

"Thanks."

"You are to report to Kavita and Roger. Buy them a snack as a thank you. Just present it as you must be getting hungry."

"Understood. Thanks Kristy." Karen's voice showed its suppressed happiness, which warmed Kristy's heart.

Kristy focused on getting her work done, she turned her focus to the conference at 12:30. "Claud, everything ready."

"Absolutely. I am featuring our advertising layouts for Krystal's jewelers as well as some templates." Claudia said, her voice airy and perky. She truly enjoyed working on her artwork.

"Sounds great."

"I just hope I you gave these interns enough time to understand my work."

"Claud, they will be with you for over 2 hours…."

"Which includes pleasantries time as well as loading the car."

"Claud." Kristy said, patiently.

"Sorry." Claudia said, petulantly.

"I will talk to you once they leave."

"Yeah, if the Ann Arbor art fair was just a few hours later I could have gone with them…"

"They will be perfectly fine."

At any other time Kristy saying that would have completely reassured Claudia, she did not trust lightly. But like Kristy, Claudia took her work seriously so she was still nervous.

Kristy's mind drifted towards her interns. She hoped that they were doing well.

As requested Karen met Kavita and Roger at 12:30 outside. "This is a nice neighborhood." Kavita remarked as Karen climbed in, dressed in a somber black suit with a blue shirt that matched her eyes.

"Yeah. I never thought Kristy would actually move out, but it is easier for her to have her own place." Karen said. "I like your suit." Karen said, gesturing to Kavita's designer suit with its red shirt.

"Thanks, I borrowed it from my sister. I thought I should represent Thomas Advertising well."

Karen smiled, yes she could see why Kristy liked Kavita.

"Thank you both for picking me up." Karen said, after chatting with Kavita for a few more minutes.

"It is no problem." Roger said, speaking for the first time. "So, what do you know about Ms. Claudia Kishi?"

"She is one of Kristy's best friends. Art is her life. So, just keep that in mind." Karen warned. "She is extremely nice, unless you challenge her art."

"Good to know. Thanks."

They reached Claudia's in record time. They knocked on the door and Claudia opened the door, she was dressed in a tie-dyed shirt that was knotted around the middle and had a black skirt on.

Kavita noted her dangling earrings which, though they appeared homemade, were the height of fashion. "You must be Kavita and Roger. Please, come in." Claudia said, welcoming the interns in.

"Hello, Karen." Claudia said, hugging the younger girl. "Kristy didn't tell me you were coming."

"Yeah, she told me last minute as well." Karen said. "How are you, Claud?"

"Doing well." Claudia said, though her eyes were on Kavita and Roger and how they handled her artwork.

"These pieces are amazing." Kavita breathed. "the Krystal Jeweler's piece highlights the exclusivity within reach."

Claudia's facial expression softened. "thank you."

Roger waited until Claudia couldn't see him, and then flashed a way to go look at Kavita.

Roger and Kavita as well as, to an extent, Karen took detailed mental notes.

Claudia helped and supervised them putting the artwork in the car. "If something should go wrong, my cell phone number is 203-K23-4455. I will have it with me even at the art fair though I may be unable to pick up immediately."

"Thank you." Kavita said, shaking hands with the elder woman.

Claudia smiled at her. "Let's see if Kristy's insanity leads to anything."

"I will do my best to ensure that it does." Kavita said, shaking her hand.

"Shoot." Roger said, as he started the car. "We are running late."

"Speed a bit." Kavita advised. "I will split the speeding ticket with you if need be."

Luckily for them, Roger was able to speed only slightly and was not pulled over. When they arrived they found that they were one of the first people to arrive. "You must be from Thomas." A lady immaculately dressed in a suit, with a red shirt and sharp black heels said.

"Yes ma'am. We are here representing Thomas Advertising."

"Interns?"

Kavita and Roger nodded

"If you survive, you will be so marketable. Just write Thomas Enterprises on any resume and companies will fall over you. If Kristy sent you here, she really likes you. So you are almost done."

Kavita smiled, she liked this frank woman. "Thank you ma'am.

"Wendy Sterling, chairwoman of the Connecticut Advertising Association."

Wendy turned to Roger. "Roger Kelley."

Wendy turned to Karen. Karen gulped. "K-Karen Brewer, I am just shadowing and learning."

Wendy smiled understandingly, "It is nice to meet you, Karen."

"Well, I will show you where to set up your stuff."

Wendy paused waiting for them to unload the car.

"Karennana, these are the Thomas Enterprises interns."

"Ah, the slaves to the Kristy Empire." But the smile on the other woman's face showed that she was mostly teasing. "Of course you are the first to arrive. So, just pick where you want to be."

"That spot is right by the door." Kavita pointed out.

"Psst. Pick the table across from the door. You see it right as you enter, but you don't look as desperate as you would if you were right inside the door."

Kavita gave Karennana a grateful look.

The evening passed quickly. Kavita had been dreading having to take Karen, the office gossip had informed everyone of why Karen was interning at TE over the summer. However, she found Karen to be pleasant and though a bit hyper, a slight exasperated sigh calmed her down.

Kavita and Roger found Kristy lounging on her front porch when they came to drop off Karen. Kavita was startled to see Kristy dressed in a crumpled shirt. "How did it go?" Kristy asked, and then before Kavita could answer she interrupted herself, "I will get the run down from Karen, I will see you all at work on Monday. Send me your thoughts by Monday night please."

"Thank you, Ms. Thomas." Kavita said, after Kristy waved her attempts to get out of the car out.

Karen hopped out and waved good-bye.

"So how was it?" Kristy said, as Karen got comfortable on the couch.

"Awesome." Karen said. "I enjoyed seeing the advertising company."

Kristy was pleased when she read the debrief which arrived later that night, rather than Monday. She immediately drafted employment contracts, two because, regretfully, Kavita and Roger were just juniors so she could only hire them part time until May.

Mary Anne called her vexed twenty minutes later. "Kristy? Where are you?"

Kristy raised an eyebrow and Mary Anne sighed. "Don't tell me that you forgot."

"Forgot?"

"Dinner. My place. The Thursday before Logan's big game aka today?"

Kristy slapped her forehead. "I will be there in twenty."

She ran downstairs, calling upstairs. "Kar, sorry but I have to go to Mary Anne's. Watson and Mom wanted you home tonight anyways.."

"Bye." Karen said.

Kristy ran all the way to Mary Anne's and arrived ten minutes after the last arrival, Stacey.

"You are late." Mary Anne said, crossly, giving Kristy the Eye which was oddly reminiscent of the look Kristy would give latecomers during their BSC days.

"Sorry." Kristy said, submissively.

"Of course she is going to be late." Stacey said, laughingly. "Claudia updated me on the progress of TA."

Kristy raised her glass. "3 months in, 10 large ticket clients, 1 non-profit's fundraising campaign, 5 smaller campaigns-"

"-headache and work for Claud." Stacey said, laughing.

"Kudos to you, Kristy." Mary Anne said, handing Kristy a plate with appetizers on it.

Kristy hugged Stacey next. She smelled something familiar on her. She shook it off and turned to greet Logan.

"How is the prep for the game coming?' Kristy asked Logan. "Boston is good this year."

"We are better." Logan said, seriously moving to talk to Kristy as Stacey and Mary Anne began putting the food on the dinner table.

"Hey. Duncan. Don't." Kristy said, grabbing MA's six year old and stopping him from grabbing a hot pepper off of her plate.

Logan laughed. "Good eye. I would have caught it when he put the pepper in someone's food."

"Baby-sitting skills are rusty." Kristy said, shaking her head.

"I need to hire someone to help me get organized." Kristy said, relaxing into Mary Anne's couch when Logan was putting the kids to sleep.

"Jayden?" Kristy shook her head. "It feels odd asking him. I mean, he signed up to be TE's CEO's exec assistant."

Mary Anne was thoughtful. "I can help you in the interim. After all, I am the one who is going to suffer. All the cold dinners while waiting for you."

"I just feel horrible for all your interns." Stacey said. "The insane amount of work you give them."

That comment also set off bells in Kristy's head but she shook it off.

"Enough about my stuff. How is Anastasia's."

"Making good money and growing. That is the most important thing. You rubbed off on me, Kristy. I am not happy unless I am thriving."

Kristy noticed, but didn't comment on the fact that Stacey attributed the ambition to her and their friendship rather than her father. Stacey and her father's relationship had soured seemingly beyond repair due to his increasing workaholic nature. Kristy hoped that they would someday reconcile. She thought that a reason Mr. McGill retreated into his work was because he felt he couldn't see Stace anyways.

Kristy looked up at Mary Anne and saw that she was thinking the same thing.

"Well, some good news. I talked to Dawn and Jeff has finally agreed, in fact suggested, that she commit him."

Kristy and Stacey sighed with relief. That would make Dawn's life easier and ease Jeff's recovery process.

"Dawn didn't say anything about it, but she is going to need a loan for his medical care."

Kristy, however, had already taken out her blackberry. "What are you doing?"

"Seeing what the best mental hospitals in the Palo Alto area are." Kristy said, as if it should be obvious.

"Bayview looks good." Kristy muttered to herself. "MA, call Dawn."

Mary Anne did. "Hey Dawn, Stace and Kristy are over. I just told them the good news…no…Dawn, I took care of that….you are not…" Mary Anne looked up and Kristy knew what was going on: the insurance company refused Dawn's request but Dawn was reticent to take help.

Kristy held her hand out for the phone. "Hey Dawn. I am so happy for you and for Jeff."

"Thanks, Kristy." Dawn said, her voice heavy. Kristy's heart went out to her. This must have been a roller coaster day.

"Hey, I never gave Jeff his graduation gift." Kristy had all of her money invested in TE at the time. "I think this is the best gift I can give him." Kristy rolled her eye as Stacey and MA mouthed WE. "In fact, I think a few of us are going to be fighting over who gets to give him this gift. Fight the insurance company but we are paying the rest. Don't argue because this is our gift to Jeff. A chance to put his life back on track."

"I am accepting for Jeff's sake."

"Good. I am going to hand the phone to MA while I make the arrangements. You, just plan on getting Jeff ready ASAP because don't give him time to change his mind. We will discuss how this miracle occurred later."

Kristy handed the phone to Mary Anne and called the hospital's psych ward. Ten minutes later she made eye contact with Mary Anne. "Dawn… I made all the arrangements at Bayview. They are expecting Jeff first thing tomorrow."

"Bayview?" Dawn gasped. "I could never repay that."

"You don't repay gifts Dawn Read Schafer. Now spend your time with Jeff." Kristy had another idea.

"No." MA said right as Kristy got off the phone. "You cannot call Prem."

"But… forgetting the fact of how you knew what I was thinking, the only reason Prem left was because of Jeff so I think he has the right to know that that is no longer a factor."

"Dawn and Prem have to work this out themselves." Stacey said. "Trust me. I know from first hand experience…"

That shamed Kristy to silence. She had been instrumental in Sam and Stacey's break-up. She had thought she was helping both her brother and her best friend by pressing him to propose but it had been more tension then their relationship could handle.

"Ah, Kristy." Stacey got up and hugged Kristy tightly. "I am not mad. I am just saying it to make a point."

"Lesson learnt." Kristy said, flashing Stacey an apology and thank you smile.

"Good." Mary Anne said, raising her glass of coke.

"Hey! Call Claud and tell her." Stacey said, taking her own cell phone out and updating Claud.

"Cacklers, the kids are finally falling asleep please be quiet." Logan yelled from the stairs.

"LWT!" Kristy yelled back, look whose talking.

Mary Anne and Stacey watched the exchange, amused. "So, Stace, Mary Anne want to meet for lunch. Mix of business and pleasure?"

"Can't. Have a date." Stacey said, regretfully

"I am up. Kids at school, Logan at practice."

"Sweet." Kristy said. "Personal assistant, please fix a place and time."

Mary Anne swatted. Kristy laughed and then yawned. "tomorrow is a working day. I am going to make a move."

Kristy had an epiphany. She called Sam. "Sam, want to come out to lunch."

"What, another lecture for the screw up Thomas?"

Kristy rolled her eyes. "No. No lecture, I swear. Just a lunch with your sister, probably Karen as well, and Mary Anne. Stacey and Claud are busy."

"Well. Thanks for the invite, but I have plans." Sam said. "Seriously. Thanks."

"You are welcome." Kristy said, slightly absentmindedly. An interesting thought was starting to come to her.

"I think Sam and Stacey are dating again." Kristy said, one month later as she, Claudia, and Mary Anne were walking to Killanies' fine dining restaurant for what had become their weekly lunches.

"What? You are crazy." Mary Anne said.

"More than crazy." Claudia seconded.

Kristy raised an eyebrow. "Evidence number one, Stacey is overly busy-"

"she is working hard on her company, Anastasia's."

"She always has time to hang out…. Except when she is dating which brings me to piece of evidence number two, she is no longer dating Brad and has not told us who she is dating now"

-maybe because its no one."

"evidence number three, Stacey and Sam have been busy at the same time and neither of them will share what they are up to." Kristy continued determinedly. "four, I have recognized scents on Stacey, in Stacey's apartment." Stacey had chosen to buy apartments, one in Manhattan and one in Stoneybrook, though it was more apt to describe both as penthouses.

"Delusional." Claudia said, stopping a moment to smooth her trendy long skirt.

However, they dropped it as they went for lunch, instead concentrating on updating each other on their personal and professional lives.

Kristy focused again on her work to the point where the only times Mary Anne, Stace, and Claudia saw her. Karen also rarely saw her except for work. It was one of the rare sightings of Karen working at the internship desk that made Kristy think. Karen was going back to school in four weeks. She had worked extremely hard this summer and Kristy felt that she had learned her lesson. She closed her door. "Jayden, I am taking a ten minute break. Please no interruptions unless urgent."

"Yes, Kristy." Jayden had finally listened to Kristy about not calling her Ms. Thomas.

"Watson, I have Lisa on this conference call as well."

"Hello." Lisa and Watson exchanged. Watson and his ex-wife had a cordial relationship that had gotten even more friendly as they had gotten distance from the bitterness that the divorce had caused. Lisa was truly happy with Seth and, Kristy hoped and believed, Watson was happy with her mom.

"I think perhaps Karen should be given a break and the last month off. She has learned her lesson. She is more driven and ambitious. I would present it to her as her bonus for her hard work."

"Well, I trust you." Lisa said. "I certainly would not object to seeing her more."

"You were placed in charge." Watson concurred. "I know you well enough to know that you have a take-no-prisoner's attitude towards work. But, I am slightly concerned that the time off could cause her to regain the tendencies that forced us to this juncture."

"I am not. I already have her signed up to do some data entry work and some work for the school year." Kristy said, confident. "One of the especially nice things is that she realized for herself why we felt compelled to take this step."

"Deliver the news, and tell her that her mom, Seth, Elizabeth, and I are waiting to see her."

"Will do." Kristy said.

"Jayden, Karen has finished the requirements for her internship. Could you please send her into my office?"

Kristy, however, began working on some invoices so Karen had to wait. She was, slightly nervously, shifting her weight between her feet wondering what she had done wrong.

Karen's anxiety was heightened due to the suspense as Jayden called, that Mary Anne was on the phone. "Hey MA, no that plan sounds excellent, though are you sure you don't just want to do the reunion at someone's house. No that is a good point, this way no one is hosting, but it just seems like a bit of a waste of money… "Kristy laughed…" no, I am up….I have Kar in my office so I will call you back… yeah… no I actually will call you back this time… is it my fault that I have thirty things going on at once… now that is not fair…seriously, I gotta call you back. "

"Karen, I talked to Watson and your mom. They agree with me. The requirements of your internship have been fulfilled. Take the rest of the month off before school starts. Your parents are really excited to see you."

Karen smiled excitedly. "Not that I didn't have fun-"

Kristy laughed. "Finish out the day and then Run free, little one. Run free."

Karen smiled. "Now, don't plan on going out tonight." Kristy cautioned. "I expect you to be packed. I think Lisa and Seth want to take you on a vacation. So I expect you to be ready when she picks you up tomorrow evening/"

Karen sighed, obviously slightly deflate. "You know me too well."

Kristy raised an eyebrow. "You can go out the rest of the summer." She pointed out.

"I know." Karen said.

Kristy forgot about her conversation with Karen just a few minutes after it happened. She needed to work on her advertising pitch to the New York Ballet. A NYC account would take TA places.

"Claud. Can you come over." Kristy asked, when she looked the pieces that Claudia had already put together.

Claudia sighed but said, "I will be over in fifteen."

"Thanks." Kristy went back to work.

"Workaholic. Workaholic." Claudia chanted when she came inside, Jayden knew to let her straight in.

"Two businesses." Kristy said, by way of explanation.

"Well, the reunion is in one month." Claudia said. "That will be a break."

"Oh yeah. I talked to MA, full retreat. She booked the four seasons in Stamford for two days."

"Just two days?"

Kristy laughed, "then we move to my house. I will not be able to take more time off."

"Which means I won't be able to." Claudia groaned.

"Chill." Kristy said. "Let's work."

Kristy worked through the next night. Not having Karen to care for made it easier as well. She had felt guilty about leaving Karen alone at night and therefore had made sure to be home by a somewhat reasonable hour.

Mary Anne stopped cold as they walked to their usual table. "Claud, tell me I am seeing things."

Claudia turned to where Mary Anne was looking and froze as well.

Kristy, on the other hand, smirked. "Told ya."

She confidently walked to the inhabitants of the table Mary Anne was staring at. "So." She said, from behind Sam, causing Stacey and Sam to jump a mile.

"Uh… Kristy, hey." Stacey said. "We were just… just."

"dating?" Kristy supplied.

Sam sighed, when Stacey looked uncomfortable. "Don't blame Stace, the secrecy was my idea. I didn't want to drag Stacey's name into my mess."

Kristy's eyes pierced Sam. "Can I speak with my brother for a few minutes. Alone?" Kristy asked.

Stacey got up, grabbing her other friends.