A/N: hello! so today, i had a very long vacant time so i decided to go home after i went to the mall with my friends to write this down so i could post an update mid-day today :) so after this post, i'd probably be at the university again for my last class. anyways, thank you so much for those who wished me well and thankfully, I am feeling better than the past few days. Also, thank you for those who took time to post a review, and for those who followed and faved my story. So, here's the new chapter for y'all :)) Enjoy!

CHAPTER 11

The Latina jumped when she heard the architect's voice. She was caught at the moment wherein she was wiping the tears that have fallen from her eyes. And oh, God... she felt like something warm touched her heart when she heard the concern in the other woman's voice.

She forced a smile. "Uhm, y-yeah... something just got into my eyes, and I think it got a bit irritated that's why it teared up." She wanted to give herself a round of applaus with the way she clearly and normally said that line.

"Let me see," the blonde said and leaned towards her so that she could look into her eyes, their faces just inches away. That beautiful face was so close to the brunette's that send her this strange but good and comfortable kind of warmth, and the warmth of the woman's breath that keeps in softly hitting her face gives her this tingly feeling shooting throughout her body. She suddenly wished that those thin pink lips would kiss her red plump ones.

"I-I'm okay, Britt, Don't-"

"Ssshh... Don't move, San," Brittany said and moved to get something at the corner of her eye. "There!"

"Dirt?" the brunette joked just to lighten up the mood.

She heard her chuckle at what she said. As always, she always finds it amusing and and adorable every time the other woman lets out a chuckle or a laugh. "Silly," the blonde said and showed her a single eyelash at the tip of her thumb.

"Brittany!" the brunette said in shock as the other woman wrapped her arms around the Latina that caught her off guard and hugged her tightly, as if it's the architect's own subtle way to tell her and let her feel the bereavement and longing that she felt all thourghout those years from being away to each other. And it seems like she was winning because she could feel the sensation of that hug breaking through the walls of defense that she built up around her heart, making it crumble.

"Please, San... Just let me hold you, babe," she heard the blonde said and she couldn't believe how sad and broken she sounded.

Santana sighed. Then, she decided to just let the other woman hug her. Although she's struggling with her own self whether she'll hug her back, but then in the end, she just chose not to. It's better that way, she could still hold onto the defense and strength that she had left.

"Britt-Britt..."

"Yes, babe?"

Babe. That's what she used to call me before. Hearing that endearment once again coming from the woman she loved the most made her heart swell even thought it caught her by surprise after not being able to hear them from her for a very long time. "Loosen up a bit, Britt. You might kill me with how tight your arms are around me right now. You're gripping me here like a snake. You don't want me to die, do you?" the brunette jokingly said.

The blonde let out a crisp laugh. She couldn't help but to stare at her in awe as she laughed mirthfully. She looked so happy and full of life.

"It feels so good to laugh like this again, Santana," the woman said as her laughter died down.

Laugh like that again? What did she mean by that? Don't tell me that she only got to laugh like that again right now... what did actually happen when I left?

"Santana..." pale hands reached for her tan ones.

"W-where are we, Britt?" She averted her eyes outside the window to avoid the gaze that those blue eyes are giving her. Right at that moment, she could feel and hear how fast and hard her heart was pounding against her chest.

The blonde sighed. "We're already here at the office's building. Obviously though, we're at the parking lot of the building."

With that, the architect quickly opened the door on her side, ran to her side of the car and opened the door for her. She offered her hand for the brunette to take and she gladly accepted it. She thought that the blonde would only assist her in getting out of the car but the blonde thought otherwise when she held onto the tan hand until they were inside the building. She slightly swayed their clasped hands in between their bodies back and forth. The surprised looks on the faces of the blonde's employees didn't go unnoticed by the Latina.

"Uhm, I'll just stay here, Britt. You go to your office. I'll, uh, wait here," she said to the other woman when she saw the attention-grabbing gallery at the end of the office lobby. There were a lot of models and designs of a couple of houses, buildings and other structures there that caught her attention and she would love to see them up close.

"No, babe. It will be more comfortable in my of-"

"You go ahead, Britt. I'll keep myself busy," she said cutting the blonde off and pointed to the corner of the lobby where the gallery is located.

"Okay. It won't take long. I'll be quick." Pale hands let go of her tan ones that's why she thought the blonde would already turn around and leave. But then again, the architect thought otherwise when she stayed in front of the brunette and slowly raised her hand and cupped her tan cheeks. She felt her cheeks flush when the blonde's other hand moved to put a couple of stray strands of her raven locks behind her ear, and without saying anything, the blonde leaned in and planted a sweet lingering kiss on her cheek. At the corner of her eyes, she saw the employees who were watching them and made those actions to show that they felt giddy upon seeing their employer acting like that for the first time in the office. The brunette playfully pinched the blonde's nose as a pay-back of how embarrassed she felt. But whether she'd admit it or not, she also felt giddy and tingly inside because of what the other woman did.

The architect turned around, whistling a quiet tune as she walked towards her personal office.

The brunette shrugged and headed down to where the gallery was. The displays and models really looked more amazing and beautiful up close. There were European styles, Asian, Western, Spanish and Italian that were being displayed. And in every model, there really was a certain resemblance that resembles a certain trademark of a single architect.

Every design was beautiful and unique, and she can't really pick the best if she has to. But what amazed her more was the signature of the architect who made most of the designs and models that are displayed at the gallery: BSPierce. Well, it wouldn't shock her if this woman is one of the most well-known personalities in the field of architecture. Her works are exemplary and it would leave anyone on awe. After all, she already saw the potential in the blonde when they were still young. She was industrious, hardworking and has this determination in her that's why it really isn't a wonder to her how successful the architect is right now.

"Hi. Miss Pierce wanted to know if you need something, maybe juice or anything," the old woman said as she approached her. She was probably Brittany's secretary. And she admits that it relieved her and made her happy upon knowing that the blonde's secretary isn't a young and sexy chick.

The brunette smiled at the woman. "I'm Santana. You don't have to bother, I'm-"

"I-it's you!" the older woman exclaimed when she got to look at her clearly.

"M-me?" Me? What did I do now?

"You're the teenager in the photograph!" the woman said, as if she can't believe what she's seeing right now, and at that moment, what the woman was looking at was her.

She looked at the old woman with a confused and puzzled expression. "Uh, what photograph?"

"The mysterious picture that's placed on top of Miss Pierce's table. And no, I will not admit anything to you. But I must say, the photo doesn't do you justice. You look a lot more gentle and kind while the one on the picture was bitchy and snobbish."

"Oh, yes... I really was a snob and a spoiled brat before, definitely a bitch to say the least," she said and couldn't help herself but chuckle. "If anyone said that I was not a bitch and all sorts, I'm sure that person was definitely lying."

The old woman lightly laughed at what she said.

"Hey, what did I miss?" Brittany said when she reached the women, seeing and hearing them laughing at something. She turned to look at her secretary. "Well, I hope that your loyalty is still with me and you're not talking bad and ruining my image behind my back to this gorgeous woman right here," the blonde said wearing a serious expression in her face, but it was obvious that she was joking because of the tone in her voice.

"Oh, my God, Boss. You're already joking? Since when did you learn to do that?" the older woman said, smiling at the both of them. "But don't worry, Miss Pierce, my loyalty is still with you."

"Whew. Thank God! By the way, Mrs. A, meet Santana Lopez." Brittany moved closer towards her and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling their bodies close. "She will be my wife soon."

The secretary looked at them with wide eyes and her jaw slightly dropping, but with a smile on her face.

"San, babe, this is my very efficient secretary, Mrs. A."

"S-Santana Lopez... your name rings a bell. I'm not quite sure if I've read or heard your name from somewhere, but it really sounds familiar," Mrs. A said, still recovering from the surprise she heard from her boss.

"Ah, well, my name does sound pretty common nowadays," the brunette said. The old woman probably read one of her published books.

"Anyways, it's really nice to meet you, Santana. Finally, this woman here is already smiling. Now, I'm wondering if her irritability would also be gone."

"Me, irritable?" the architect exaggeratingly but playfully scoffed.

The Latina can't stop the smile forming on her lips. It was obvious that the blonde and her secretary has a good working relationship with one another.

"Aw, come on, boss. You -"

"Ooops. Hold it right there, Mrs. A. You could probably say things that you shouldn't. And now, I thought that your loyalty was with me?" the blonde said, feigning hurt. "If Santana will be turned-off and she won't like me anymore, I'll blame you for this," she joked. Brittany was obviously in a light mood today.

Mrs. A let out a soft laugh. "Oh you, young woman. So, anyway, you go ahead now. Congratulations and - oh, no. The devil is here." The old woman stopped what she was saying and said that as she saw who was approaching them, her eyes widened and glanced at the Latina with a worried look on her face.

A/N: Uh-oh... tsk tsk tsk. so sorry to cut this chapter short but I have to get back to school right now and I'll leave you with this at the moment. hope you enjoyed the chapter. Let me know what you think :) and i'll be seeing you on the next update. bye!