A/N: I understand that some of you are disappointed or angry that I broke up Brittana in the sequel and I honestly respect that. Seriously :) And since I've always been one for a realistic approach like in LoA, there's two things I take into account in this story: Chemistry and Timing. They have insane chemistry and we all know they're soulmates. But timing. Timing's a goddamn bitch ;) I'll make it up to everyone, I swear :)
- Brittany's POV –
Santana's been staring at me for the past three seconds like I just killed someone.
I'm still not sure how to approach the situation since she's obviously uninformed by Maribel and any other person in this firm. We hold our gazes and awkward stances, just staring at each other like fools waiting for Christmas to arrive. Thankfully, someone breaks the ice after a few seconds.
"Are you ready, Miss Pierce?" Kitty, who introduced herself as an intern when she fetched me from the receiving area a couple of minutes ago, peeks through my doorway and effectively snaps Santana and I from our moment. "Oh, good morning, Miss Lopez. Can I get you anything?" She adds with what looks like a fake grin.
Immediately, Santana purses her lips and hesitantly turns to face Kitty beside her. "Y-You're here. I-I… U-Uh…" She stutters heavily, glancing at my direction as she tries to recover by clearing her throat. "N-No. E-Excuse me." She adds, walking away from us in a haste and eventually turning into a corner.
"Well, that's weird." Kitty comments, our gaze on Santana before she disappeared from our sight.
"W-What?" I say, swallowing the lump in my throat.
"She's usually a little crankier than that." She replies before turning to me with a grin. "Anywho, since she's here and I see you've settled a bit, should we start the tour?"
I bite my lip and actually think about whether or not I should make a run for it and tell Maribel that I'm not taking the job after all and honestly tell her that it wasn't a good decision in the first place. That it was a decision based on getting myself drunk after seven glasses of champagne. Or maybe I should go and catch up with Santana to explain everything. Oh man, maybe I'll decide later until after this 'tour' Kitty is about to give me.
"Sure." I say, giving off a small smile as I grab my purse from my new table.
"Cool. We'll start from the reception and work our way around. Follow me." Kitty replies and proceeds to walk out of my office as I follow her intently.
The past week has been… interesting, to say the least.
Even though I tried so hard to get a hold of Santana, I just wasn't able to. At all. I didn't even know where she went off to after the wedding. I guess it shouldn't surprise me that she went back to Manhattan almost immediately after the events. I honestly tried but she was purposely dodging me and I know it.
I got a little busy. I went home to Chicago for a few days to spend some quality time with my parents after being gone for so long. And of course, trying to get a hold of myself and what exactly my plans are for pursuing the job at the Lopez firm. I admit that part of it is due to wanting to be close to Santana but the fact that she seems to be happy with her new girlfriend is kind of derailing all my plans. I'm not a home wrecker or whatever it is that you call someone trying to ruin a relationship. I don't have plans to become a third party at all either. I don't know how long they've been together and I don't want to know because it doesn't matter. If she's happy then… yeah.
I know I shouldn't expect anything at all in those two years. I mean, it's been a long time so I'm even lucky in a way to find out that she's not married yet. I guess that gives me a little bit of hope? I don't know. I'm probably reaching for the heavens here but I believe it's a sign that maybe there still is a chance? Dammit. This is freaking crazy. I think I should just quit this wishful thinking. I mean, I came back the other day here in Manhattan to get myself settled for today but thinking about it now, I'm not really sure what I'm actually doing. Or thinking. Yeah, I'll probably talk to Santana later after this tour and apologize for all this commotion then do the same to Maribel.
What was I thinking? I should probably kick back or just anything. I could travel. I could take a rest. I could relax and take time off to do whatever it is that I want since I practically deserved it like Grams said. I could even eat, sleep, and just basically not do anything if I wanted to do. But this is Santana. It always comes back to her.
Gosh, I'm so confused!
I love practicing law. It's my passion. I'm not forcing my presence on them, the firm, or even Santana. Like Maribel said, she needs a new Senior Associate she can trust and she's practically my third mother after all these years. Or was, before Santana and I broke up. But that's not the point. By the way, she was right about the firms offering me work and shiny checks flashing on my face. And like what Maribel said too, what she's offering me is something grounded and real. Plus, there's a parking spot which I'm sure I'm probably never going to use and an office. It's a pretty good deal which is why I accepted the offer. And that's the only reason why.
"Miss Pierce?" Kitty calls out in front of me and I snap out of my trance. "Are you alright?"
I shake off the feeling and nod as I catch up walking beside her. "Y-Yeah. Lack of sleep, I guess."
"Well, just tell me what you usually order in Starbucks or Peet's and I can get you coffee like I do for them."
"That's nice of you but you don't have to do that for me. And you can just call me Brittany."
Kitty flashes me a small smile. "I like you. You're nice like Quinn." She adds and before I can ask the story behind that semi-compliment, she motions around her with a twirling finger. "I'm not actually supposed to do this tour but Mrs. Lopez insisted that I do it since I'm your intern."
"Yeah, you told me awhile ago. Is that like an exclusive thing or are you every Senior Associate's intern?"
"Basically, yours, Santana, and Quinn's intern. It's pretty humbling. I know I'm a big deal but being put in such a position basically gives me the spotlight among my co-interns. I'm practically the HBIC among them." She replies with such bold confidence that makes me unsure how to reply exactly. I nod once at the statement just in time for us to arrive at our destination. We stop in front of the receptionists' desk and I turn to face her again just as she stops to do the same for me.
"Welcome to Lopez Hayward. I am Kitty Wilde and I'll be showing you around today." She says with the biggest forced grin I've probably ever seen in my life. "I understand that you're pretty much the richest person in here next to Maribel Lopez and you're a badass based on the news I've seen on television. Oh, and you also used to work here." She adds without pausing.
My eyes widen and I kind of have no idea how to reply to that. "U-Uhmm… Yeah, I don't know about that-"
"Moving on…" Kitty cuts me off without looking at me. "So, I know you know how it all goes down here but I'm required to give you the whole thing."
"Of course."
"Great!" She exclaims and starts walking again towards the direction of the elevators. "So, since you've been gone a few years ago, nothing much has changed save for the few renovations and offices built. Maribel Lopez, the Founding and Managing Partner, runs this firm. John Hayward's still alive as they say but he's not here. So, I guess he's dead. God bless his old soul."
The elevator doors open and Kitty motions for me to come in. She pushes a button and the doors close with only the two of us inside.
"He's actually still alive, just retired." I say, innocently. She shrugs and momentarily, we reach the designated floor. Once it opens, Kitty proceeds to walk out and I follow her as we turn towards the left then right. We pass by a huge hallway leading with dark gray walls. At the end of it, you can either go left or right as you wish. Kitty leads me towards the right hall.
"Lopez Hayward prides itself for hiring the best graduates from Ivy League Schools all over the country, preferably Harvard and Columbia. The firm specializes on a number of fields and areas of expertise. And these," She subtly motions to a couple of people staring at us and who I assume to be associates since this is where we used to be situated when we were still in the cubicles. "are the Rookie Associates. A few of them are interns too. This is their area. Of course, you know that since you used to be situated in here."
The room, about 150 square meters, houses about fifteen-twenty cubicles. Each cubicle with the usual desktop computer. A long table glued to the wall surrounds the whole room from all four corners with stools situated strategically all over the room. Like the whole firm, it has a navy blue, white, and light wood motif. Perfect ambience with the whole overlooking Manhattan thing.
"Sure. That used to be my cubicle, actually." I smile a little and point to a cubicle a few feet away from us.
"I know." She utters nonchalantly. "I almost pulled out a Rookie Associate's hair out a week ago because I wanted the cubicle next to yours. Miss Fabray's, of course." She adds with a grin and I probably look like a fool staring back before she turns on her heels again and walks the other way towards the hallway leading to the other side. "After the renovation, there's another identical room like this on the other side of the floor which also houses other Rookie Associates, paralegals, and interns, just so you know."
We journey to the other side of the hall and indeed, it's an identical room like what she said with a pantry of some kind separating it from the inside. When we reach the left part of the floor upon alighting the elevator, she goes on about it's the area for a few Junior and Senior associates. Before I know it and after being shown countless rooms from different floors including IT support, Law Library, and various file rooms, we're in the elevator again and journeying to another floor. The elevator doors open just as we alight from it. Kitty clears her throat and motions to the 'Lopez Hayward' sign a foot away from us, just above the receptionists' desk for this floor and behind it is a huge conference room with a glass wall.
"You'll be working as a Senior Associate for Maribel. And since the firm works on a chain of command kind of thing, she's your commanding officer. Sure, the other Partners might ask for your help but I was told that you were to only answer to Maribel's demand and they wouldn't even dare go behind Mrs. Lopez's back in the first place. Lucky you."
I nod as we turn left and enter through a glass door leading to the whole interior of this part of the office. I see 7 small offices lined up towards the end of the hall, ending with a corner office, all overlooking Manhattan on my right and a few cubicles in front of them, possibly for the assistants.
"This area is for the Junior Partners and a couple of Senior Associates. As of the moment, there are 7 Junior Partners and 10 Senior Associates, including you. The firm is still recovering from what happened so I still have no news for that."
My eyebrows scrunch a little as I turn my attention to her. "What do you mean 'what happened'?"
"Oh, just a little betrayal of some sorts. But everyone's alive and the firm isn't burnt down so I guess it's alright. Moving on!" She exclaims and continues to guide me towards the long hall before we encircle the whole lot and walk back towards the elevators, journeying again to another floor. Soon enough, she leads me to another floor for a few Junior Partners and Senior Partners. It took us a couple of minutes before we get back to the floor where my office is situated.
Momentarily, we enter through a glass door entrance leading us back to where we started. "And lastly, this floor houses the offices of the Managing Partner, a few Senior and Junior Partners, five of the Senior Associates including you. Maribel's office is right down the corner, pantry's just behind this wall, file room is on the other side of the floor, the wonderful law library is just below this floor for all intents and purposes, and if you ever need anything you know where to find me." She ends with a sigh and I take a deep breath as well since I think I might have gotten a little dizzy with the elevator rides.
"Well, thank you for showing me around Kitty. I appreciate it." I say with a smile as we walk side by side towards my office.
"No problem. And I know I'm not supposed to speak or whatever but I know all about you. I mean, it's my job but I like to be nosy. You three are practically legends back in Harvard."
"O-Oh. W-Well, I-I-"
"You graduated second in your class, the same one as Santana and Quinn. Your expertise is finance law. Quinn's is business and corporations and Santana's corporate litigation. The three of you have a key and are members of the Order of the Coif, top 10% of the class. I'm getting one too, so I know." Kitty smirks. "Anyway, Santana and Quinn are rock stars in this firm and have built quite the stellar reputation. They bring in a truckload of money with all their big name clients, probably more than all the associates combined and maybe a couple of Junior Partners too. Santana brings in the most money and she's the most intimidating of all which is why everyone's afraid of her."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah. They're afraid but I'm not. I know everything there is to know about this place." She shrugs and I chuckle in amusement. "Actually, there's something I thought of a while ago. Can I ask you a question, Brittany?"
My ears perk up and I look at her dumbfounded as we walk alongside each other. "U-Uhmm… Sure, Kitty."
"Miss Fabray talks about you a lot and I can't help but notice that Santana doesn't. In fact, she seems to stay quiet about you. What is up with that?"
I wait for a 'unless you don't want to talk about it' or 'it's none of my business' but nothing comes. "W-Well, I-I-"
"I really don't care I just asked for the sake of asking."
"I see." I say with a nonchalant tone. "I-I guess Santana and I are close in a different way. You know, not like Quinn and I." I trail off and wait for her to say something but the look on her face genuinely says that she doesn't care. I clear my throat and try to deviate from the topic. "Anyway, how about you? What's the story?"
"It's my last year in Harvard Law right now and I'm planning to work here as soon as I graduate." We enter through a glass door and come back to the area where my new office is situated. "I'm graduating top of my class anyway, so it's a legit goal."
"You really are like Quinn. Just a little more driven and self-aware version of her." I grin and she lights up like she just won the lottery. I enter my office and look around me to see that Santana's still not around and I still have no idea what to do yet. I guess it gives me time to think about how I can approach the situation I'll subject myself later. "So, Kitty, how about you and I get some coffee and you can tell me more about you and what's new in this office since I left?" I add with a grin and she nods in agreement as I close the door to my new office.
- Santana's POV –
"You can't do this to me!" I exclaim in anger as soon as I enter my mother's office and see her busy reading something by her table as if she didn't hear me.
"What exactly are we talking about?" She answers nonchalantly, without looking up.
"I know you know what I'm talking about, Mami."
"Oh, you mean that Brittany's working here again. Is Kitty giving her the tour right now? Tell her to come see me when she's done settling in her new office."
My mouth opens in astonishment and I try to be patient with what's happening here. "Did you not hear me? Are you doing this on purpose to screw with me? Because this shit is not funny!"
My mother finally looks up and raises an eyebrow at me. "Watch it, Santana." She trails off and I try to calm down. "I am not doing this to 'screw' with you, okay? I needed a new Senior Associate to replace Brody and it just so happened that Brittany's moving back into town and doesn't have anything lined up. So, I gave her an offer and she accepted."
"And out of all the available lawyers in New York, you hire her? Are you kidding me?" I throw my hands up in exasperation. "At least tell me that this is just for a short while and she's not really moving back here."
"It's permanent, actually." Mother smirks and relaxes against her chair. "I needed somebody I can trust to fill in the position and it's just my luck she got back just in time."
"B-But…" I try to think of something to negate or just anything to change the position I'm under now as I pace back and forth across from her. "'Senior Associate'? She's been gone for three years. Don't you think it's a little unfair that she got the position ahead of the Junior Associates?"
"Dear, nobody among those Junior Associates can hold a candle to Brittany. She's a goddamn good researcher, probably even better than some of the paralegals we hired. She's a strong financial lawyer as well. They can all argue about this but that girl can run circles around them any day and she has the experience to back it up. Need I remind you how she handled her job like a pro back in-"
"You don't need to remind me, Mother. I'm very much aware of that." I cut her off with a stern tone. She stares at me for a second before sighing in defeat.
"Okay, tell me what I did wrong this time?"
I chuckle sarcastically and cross my arms in the process. "What's wrong is you went behind my back about this. You hired her without consulting me or Quinn. We're your associates. We're a team and you could at least inform us about whoever should take that job."
"Who says Quinn doesn't know about it?" Mami remarks, amused.
My eyebrows raise at the statement. "So, Quinn knew about this and you didn't even bother to tell me?"
"I only told her a few hours ago, Santana. She was pretty happy about it, if you ask me." Mother remarks then sighs as she looks me straight in the eye. "Mija, I'm going to level with you about this matter. I may be your mother but when we're inside the office or anything involving professional matters, I am your boss. And for good measure, I am the Managing Partner in this firm which means that all decisions I make are final and executory."
I grit my teeth and shake my head in disbelief. "I understand that. What I don't specifically get is why you didn't tell me beforehand that you were going to hire my ex-fiancée, someone I used to be freaking engaged with, as my co-associate. I'm perfectly fine if you're rehiring her again, I don't really care about that." I pause and try to hold back on my anger. "But her working the same unit as Quinn and I is not a good idea. I mean, without a doubt, all of us will be working closely together, don't you think that's a little troublesome and dramatic?"
"I suppose that it will cause for some drama between the two of you but that's none of my concern. We're professionals."
"Goddamn it! Mother, don't pretend that this isn't a big deal!"
"I know it is." Mother gives me a hard gaze. "But I know that you know that we need her here right now. Can you think of any other lawyer who can get along with you and Quinn without literally pulling out any hairs? Or for argument's sake, just any human being for that matter?"
"Brody was a little bitch and we all know it."
"Well, if it weren't for your snooping around in his office then we wouldn't have known that he was a little bitchy traitor. Unsung hero, you were. You should have taken credit for that, you know."
"And what? Get suspended if they ever find out it was me who snooped? Worse, I could get disbarred with how dirty he plays." I raise an eyebrow. "I told you, Mother. I had nothing to do with that snooping. Those documents just so happened to turn up on your table. It was a ghost." I shrug while she just gives me a look.
"Uh-huh. Entertain me if you must but I'm not going to change my mind about Brittany. Even if you ignore everything I said about her being a good lawyer, she's the only one Quinn would actually hug with open arms and as amused as I am, the only person you won't try to insult every five seconds."
"But we don't need her! Quinn and I are doing just fine without her. We bring the firm millions of dollars with all the clients we've signed, Mother. For instance, I have Jessica Alba on my speed dial and Quinn has Maria Sharapova. And that's just the tip of the iceberg, it doesn't get any better than that."
"And it's also the firm's best interest with another person bringing in new clients and business. Like the ones you and Quinn weren't able to sign with us, for example."
I glance at the ground in a defeated manner before looking back at her. "Fine. But can you just please put her somewhere else? Anywhere but this." I say with a pleading tone.
"Mija, for the past week your billables doubled, you've managed to sign Michael Phelps as a client, and you even took care of a few of Quinn's clients on her behalf. And that's all because Brittany's back in town." Mother shrugs. "If that's the case then maybe I should hire all your ex-girlfriends and every girl you've ever slept with. Business would probably take off like a rocket."
I cringe a little and hold up a hand to gesture her to stop. "Okay, mother. Let's not involve my personal affairs in this." I clear my throat much to her amusement. "I'm just politely asking if maybe you could assign her to another Senior Partner or just anyone at all."
Mother seems to think about it genuinely for a moment before shrugging and going back to her papers. "No. It's final. Brittany is my new Senior Associate. And you know how it was before when the three of you worked together. It was great!" She pauses. "And like a good wine, it only gets better with age. And what does this have to do with anything? Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake were amicable after they broke up that they even worked again together."
"First of all, that analogy is not accura-"
"Girl's got legs that run for miles and you're a beautiful singer. It's a damn good analogy, if you ask me." Mother shrugs.
I curse inwardly and basically kick myself in the ass if I could. This is a bunch of trouble waiting to happen. Putting me and Brittany in the same room together is specifically creating the biggest drama in the firm.
"Fine. We all worked good together I know. But that was before we broke up!" I shout a little too loud. "And if it still hasn't occurred to you, I'm with someone else now and I've moved on. You and Papi even met George."
"And she's lovely, Santana." Mother trails off with a tone I'm all too familiar with. "But-"
"But what? You and Grams thought that Brittany working here again would get us back together?"
"Bonnie had nothing to do with this." Mother sighs and glares at me. "What I was getting at before you cut me off was if you're with someone else now and you've moved on like you said then why are you so worried about Brittany working here again?"
I freeze in my position and stare at her, trying to come up with anything to say. "W-Wha-"
Mother smirks and gives out one of those smiles that basically says she's won an argument. "Tell me, Mija. Have you really moved on? And if you say you have, then what's the problem with Brittany working here again?"
I bite my lip and take a really deep breath before looking her straight in the eye again. "I-I have. I just don't want to find out what can happen when two people who used to be engaged work again together." I try to sound confident. "This is asking for trouble, Mother. You know our history. You know what happened. I don't want to be another disappointment again if this hits the fan." I tell her with a stern stare. With this, she takes a deep breath and stares back at me with a calculating look.
"Fine. I'm not going to change my mind but I can offer you something in return. Let's make a deal."
I stare at her for a bit before I take the seat in front of her in a defeated manner and relax a little as I cross my legs and raise an eyebrow at her. I've already lost this argument, might as well get something out of it. "I'm listening."
"I will give you something you've wanted for a while now in exchange for you leaving this Brittany issue alone."
"And what exactly are we talking about here, Mother?"
Mami turns her seat around and seemingly gets a folder from a pile of other similar looking ones then turns again to face me, throwing the folder towards me when it lands only a couple of inches away. I maintain my gaze on her until I lean forward and scan the object. I squint my eyes on it before looking quizzically back at my mother.
"Is this the-"
"Yes. The Gilbert Case." My mother utters with a smirk. "Elliot Gilbert is suing Starchild Incorporated for being wrongfully terminated in his own company and they've been allegedly using his ideas in which they've made not less than 650 million dollars in revenue for the past two years. This is a multi-billion dollar case, Santana. This is a big deal."
I hold off her stare and take a moment to digest the situation. "So, you're bribing me to be okay with Brittany working here in exchange for getting one of the biggest cases we've gotten this year so far?"
"No. This is me giving you a huge case and you doing your job, Mija." Mother says with a strict tone. "I won't change my mind about Brittany. But I am with this." She motions to the folder in front of me. "This is your second chance, Santana. Don't screw it up again."
I gulp down the huge lump in my throat as I look down at the floor and take a deep breath. I glance up to meet her gaze and nod once. "I won't."
"Good. I expect you to work seamlessly with Quinn and Brittany on that. You get first chair. I'll brief you three in on everything once Quinn comes back next week. I have to fly to Chicago for the weekend with your father."
"Business?"
"Pleasure." Mami exclaims with a grin. "We're invited to the Pierces' charity golf tournament. Your father is so excited to play. And I'm excited to meet Tiger Woods."
I give her a look of disbelief and slowly stand up from my seat. "Charming, Mother. But now I have to get back to work."
"Oh, how was your meeting with the client this morning? Did you get the other party to settle?"
I smirk and raise an eyebrow at her, grabbing the folder in front of me. "Please. I had them begging on their knees."
Mami sighs deeply and hands me the Gilbert folder. She goes back to her papers just as I turn on my heels. "Great. Be nice to Brittany. I don't want to know you're ignoring her when she's just an office away from you. Try to make friends, if you know what I mean."
"I'll try, Mother." I say in a defeated tone.
"I'm serious about this. I'll have Kitty tell me if you did otherwise." She mutters and I just nod without looking at her. "Oh, before you go, can you do me one more favor?"
"Anything."
"Do welcome Brittany to the firm, will you?" She says with the subtlest of smirks I only see her do when she knows she's won something.
"Of course." I sigh in a defeated manner before darting out of the room feeling like I just made a deal with the Devil.
- Brittany's POV –
After a few minutes of fumbling around in my office and making myself busy with whatever I can get my hands on while thinking about the best way to deal with all of this stuff, I finally arrive to the conclusion that I'm not going to turn my back on this offer. I love the law. I loved working for Maribel before even if I only managed to sleep for 2-3 hours everyday. I want to learn more and I know that the best way to do that is actually work for a great firm like Lopez Hayward.
Unless Santana's going to tell me she's uncomfortable with it then I'll quit.
Which is why when I see Santana walking back to her office looking conflicted, I summon all the strength I have as I stand up from my comfy chair and slowly walk towards her office. When I reach her doorway, I see the brunette with her back towards me, taking a glass on the table in front of her then pouring herself what seems to be a bottle of Scotch. I take a deep breath and say my prayers as I lightly knock on her glass door.
"Kitty, I'm not in the mood for anything right now. I told you before, if you want to bully the Junior Associates into giving you all the granola bars in their pantry then go do whatever the hell you want." She utters with a hard tone. I see her raising the glass to her mouth and drinking the contents of the glass in one swig. I gulp heavily and finish for her to put down the glass first.
"I-It's not Kitty." I say softly. She doesn't flinch or jump in surprise. Slowly, she turns around and glances at me before clearing her throat then takes a seat as if it's the most normal thing in the world.
"Brittany, what can I do for you?" She utters without looking at me, trying to get busy with the folder she was carrying on the way to her office awhile ago.
"Can I come in? I want to talk about something."
She looks up for a second, as if she's contemplating whether or not she should oblige. Thankfully, she nods and gives me all her attention as I welcome myself inside her office.
"What can I help you with?" She asks innocently, leaning back on her chair.
"I just want to apologize for earlier. I-I really didn't know that Maribel-"
"It's okay. Mami and I talked about it and I was just out of the loop. Honest mistake." She replies and I sense a little hostility in her words. Maybe she really doesn't want me here and if I know her well like I do, she's never going to say that to my face at all. Might as well take the plunge for this.
I nod at her words and glance at the ground trying to figure out the words to say before looking back at her. "I'm going to Maribel after this and I'll tell her that I'm not going to take the job after all."
Her eyebrows scrunch up and she gives me a hardened look. "Why would you do that?"
It catches me off-guard and I get a little confused. "I know you don't want me here and you just don't want to say it. I don't want to force myself on anyone and I'm certainly not keen for trouble. I think you and I can agree that this isn't a good idea on paper let alone be an office away from each other."
"What are-"
"Before you say anything, I'm not here to meddle in your affairs. I'm not here to go after you again. I didn't take the job because I wanted to be closer to you again. I mean, at first I did. But-" I pause and try to collect myself while she just looks at me quizzically. "I know we have a rich history but I'm not here to ruin anything-" I ramble before she cuts me off.
"Our history has nothing to do with this." She glares at me as her tone changes into that of a stern one.
"What? Santana, you don't have to-"
"You shouldn't quit just because we u-used to be-" She pauses, a little hesitant to speak before she clears her throat. "I-If the only reason you're rescinding the offer is because we used to be together then I don't think you should quit at all. We're professionals, Brittany. You used to work here and we used to work together. We'll be fine."
"So, are you saying that you're okay with me working here, Santana?"
Santana sighs and bites her lip. "I'm saying that if you really want to work here then maybe we can find a way to coexist."
I try to think of the best way to approach the statement and even thought of saying what's on my mind. Or maybe ask the questions that truly matter. How long has she and George been dating? Does she think that maybe we have a chance? Is there anyway we can go back to the way we were before? A hundred questions plaguing my mind but none of them appropriate in this setting. Because again, and like I said, I'm not here for personal matters.
"Yeah. We can do that." I say, giving out a small smile in the process. What could have been a heartfelt moment instantly turns into an awkward one when we find ourselves staring at each other for more than three seconds. Damn that tension.
She clears her throat again and pretends to read something from the pile of papers in front of her. "S-So, if that's all you want to say, then I'll have to get back to work. Lots of it."
My eyebrows shoot up and nod frantically. "O-Of course. I'll leave you to your peace."
"Great. Quinn's coming back next week and Mami just gave me one of the biggest cases we've gotten this year and the three of us will be collaborating on it. And like usual, that's on top of everything else."
"Oh, wonderful. I guess we'll be busy." I say with a forced chuckle.
"Extremely." She replies almost instantly. She holds my stare for a little while before sighing. "For what it's worth, I'm looking forward to working with you again, Britt." She utters in the most genuine way possible.
I smile and nod, relaxing a little. "Likewise, San." I say and proceed to turn on my heels. Before I'd get to exit her office though, she cuts me off from doing so.
"I forgot to tell you, Mami wants to see you in her office. She didn't tell me why. She'll probably just welcome you herself."
"Oh, thanks. I'll get on it." I nod and proceed to walk out before it gets awkward again. Or before I embarrass myself by staring too much at Santana.
"And Brittany?" She calls out and I turn around just by the doorframe to see her smiling back at me. "Welcome to Lopez Hayward."
Lots of exciting things to come. X.