Previously: After signing Finn Hudson, Michael Baxter managed to sign a very drunk Noah Puckerman, and get him sent to rehab to dry out before the big meeting in Dallas, Texas. So that's 2 former New Directioners signed. Michael can only hope he can get Brittany S Pierce on board as number 3, but will she be too smart for him? Only time will tell.
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And now the continuation:
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PART 4 - A CONFUSING DIRECTION
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CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
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It was a new day, and it started in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After leaving Lima, Ohio the day before, the flight into Cambridge arrived a little too late for Michael to get to M.I.T. So he booked a motel room, and got down to planning the next few days. Flights, cars, and whatever else needed booking. He also focused on his own work, that needed to be down for Baxter Enterprises Inc. One of the companies, that his brother, Jack, put him in charge in.
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Michael drove into the visitors car park of M.I.T, and made his way into the University. He was ushered into an office where he told to wait for Brittany.
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He waited for over an hour for her. He kept asking her secretary several times over about her whereabouts. Each time he got a different response.
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"She knows you're here Mr Baxter, she will be with you soon."
"I'm sorry Mr Baxter, but Miss Pierce is just finishing up a meeting of her own."
"Yes Mr. Baxter we know you're still here, Miss Pierce will be here very soon, I can guarantee you of that."
"I'm sorry Mr. Baxter, Miss Pierce can sometimes get held up with different things, I've beeped her several times, she says she's on her way."
"Dear me Mr. Baxter, I'm so embarrassed, but Miss Pierce seems to be doing other things at the moment, but I will go talk to her myself."
"Sir, she says she's on her way. She won't be much longer."
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He was about to give the meeting away, as he had, had enough of waiting. How dare she keep him waiting he thought. He was part of one of the richest families in America, if not the World, and Brittany S Pierce is keeping HIM waiting.
Finally Brittany walked blissfully through the office door, and walked over to her desk. She looked around. She looked at Michael with a confused look, and shook her head.
"Oh, sorry, I thought that this was my office!" said Brittany confused
"This IS your office," replied a frustrated Michael "I've been waiting over an hour to meet with you."
"I'm sorry," replied Brittany walking over to the windows that overlooked some of the University "I've been busy with numbers and things. I wished you booked a meeting."
"I DID," replied Michael flabbergasted "Yesterday."
"Hmmmm," replied Brittany looking out the windows "Then I'm just as confused as you are."
"I'm NOT confused," replied Michael clearly agitated now, "I'm just frustrated that I had to wait over an hour FOR YOU."
Brittany stared out the window "That's 60 minutes... There's 60 seconds in a minute... So clearly that's 3600 seconds."
"Good to KNOW," replied Michael not wanting to know that. "But I need to talk to you about something completely different."
"Go for it," replied Brittany still looking out of the window
Michael shook his head, his sources had been correct, she was indeed the most frustrating person to deal with.
"I'd prefer if we can speak face to face."
"And I'd prefer if Lord Tubington Junior, Junior, Junior could stop eating me out of house and home," replied Brittany
That was the final straw, even though to Michael, Brittany was the best dancer that the New Directions had apart from Mike Chang, and the younger Jake Puckerman, and together her and Michael were awesome, and it could be even more awesome if they involved Jake, that would be a good sight to watch, but dealing with Brittany was so frustrating. He had, had enough.
"Sorry Miss Pierce for wasting your time," said Michael standing up and heading for the door, "But I've got somewhere else to be."
"Sorry sir, I din't catch your name?" replied Brittany turning around around feeling like she had offended the stranger
"Michael," replied Michael as he got to the door "Michael Baxter."
"Baxter?" questioned Brittany out loud "Not of the famous American family Baxters? The ones who are running the World Champion Show Choir Competition?"
Amazing, thought Michael, she can come out with that after delaying him for an hour.
"Yes, the very one," replied Michael turning around
Brittany ushered Michael back to the table, and over to a chair, so against his better judgement he decided to accept. He sat down.
"What can I do for you Mr Michael Baxter?"
Michael decided it was best to come out and just say it now that he had her attention.
"I'm building my own team for the Worlds," said Michael "And I want to invite you to be a part of my team?"
"Why? asked Brittany
"Because I grew up watching Show Choir and my favorite group was the New Directions. You were the best dancer ever."
"And singer too of course,"
"Of course," lied Michael, hoping Brittany wouldn't catch the lie.
"Finally," smiled Brittany "Someone who knows the truth and isn't afraid to admit it."
Michael just smiled back.
"You do realize that I haven't sung or dance for 10 years?" started Brittany "That's at least 3652 days which includes 2 extra days for the 2 leap years in between the 10 years that we had."
"PLEASE, please don't tell me how many hours, minutes, or seconds that is," replied Michael getting in quick "I get the picture."
"Are you sure? It's very impressive time wise!"
"I'm very sure," smiled Michael "I have no doubt how impressive it would be."
The look on Brittany's face was priceless for Michael. She really wanted to tell him the exact amount, but he didn't want her to.
"So going on all those numbers," replied Brittany "Why would you want me on your team if I haven't sung or dance for that long?"
"Because I have no doubt, you'd be able to pick those things up, in no time, by your skills. It'll be like learning to ride a bike again, once you've been on one, it comes back naturally."
Michael wasn't lying then, Brittany got up and went back to the window. Obviously she was in contemplation mode. Michael sure that wasn't a good thing.
"What are you offering, Mr Michael Baxter?" asked Brittany after a couple of minutes
Michael opened his briefcase and took out a contract, and moved it over to Brittany's side of the table.
"I'm offering you a contract worth $1 Million. $100,000 of which you will receive the moment you sign the contract. The rest you will receive when you get to Dallas, Texas, next month for our first official team meeting. Dallas being my home town which is why I want the meeting to be there."
Brittany walked back to her chair without saying anything. She sat down, and grabbed the contract, and began to skim read it. Michael was sure she'd figure out that he was trying to re-build the New Directions like Finn Hudson had done. He was also sure Puck being the drunk he was, never registered that idea. Even though nothing like that was in the contract.
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It took 10 minutes for Brittany to finish skim reading, and then she spoke.
"It's pretty crafty about making people pay the double amount back if they decide to pull out before the Worlds, as they wouldn't be able to afford it!"
Michael froze in his seat. This girl, this confusing girl, was at times brilliantly brainy. He was sure if she hadn't picked up about him resurrecting the New Directions before, surely she would have done now?
But Brittany answered her own question: "Though I can see why! You recruit the best team possible, you'd want to keep as strong as possible for the year. Good choice to add that in."
Michael breathed out. He had dodged another bullet surely.
Brittany finished reading the contract and sat there staring into space.
"So the question is..." started Brittany "Do I want to stay here to continue my work on numbers? Or do I want to earn $1 Million for a years work, but something that I haven't done for 10 years. That's pretty tough."
Michael felt like Brittany was going to talk about number sequences and was about to give in, when out of the blue she grabbed a pen, and signed the contract.
"Stuff it," Brittany said "I miss dancing and singing, and it's only for a year, if we make it all the way. I can always come back here."
Michael sat there feeling like a stunned mullet, and after a few seconds, he fumbled for his phone, and texted a number.
"Ummm..." started Michael grabbing a card from his briefcase "Wow, I'm quite speechless Miss Pierce. I'm glad you are on board though. The $100,000 should be in your bank account any second now. These are the details for the meeting at my place in Dallas next month."
Brittany took the card. "Hopefully I won't let you down Mr. Michael Baxter."
"If you dance and sing as well as you did ten years ago, then you won't let me down."
Michael grabbed the contract and placed it in his briefcase, shut it, got up and held out his hand.
"Looking forward to seeing you again next month Miss Pierce."
Brittany shook his hand "Likewise.
Michael smiled and then left the office.
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The moment he closed the door he felt such a relief. He was drained just by spending time with Brittany. She was brilliant on the one hand, but on the other hand she was totally frustrating to deal with.
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Michael made his way out of the University, and headed to his car. The moment he got to his car, he felt like he was being watched. He turned around, and scanned the area, and it was then that he saw Brittany standing looking out the window on one of the upper floors, staring at him. She started waving, he smiled, and waved back. He then got in his car, and drove off.
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Brittany waved down at Michael, and watched him drive away.
"I know your little secret, Mr. Michael Baxter," smiled Brittany watching the car drive off "Mum's the word. If you manage to get us all back together, it will be a statistical anomaly judging on the way we all split up. I wish you good luck."
Brittany then walked away from the window and went back to what she was doing.
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So now Michael has signed Brittany S Pierce along with Finn Hudson and Noah Puckerman. It looks as if Finn and Brittany knows the situation. Will anyone else know the whole story or won't they pick up on it. Stay tuned for another exciting chapter coming next.