6.8.12
A/N: You guys are great! Really I mean it! So I realized I should have mentioned that the story starts at the very end of July. This chapter will open back up into the second week of August. Believe it or not this is important to telling the story . Any who I hope that you enjoy this installment! Next chapter will be longer and more exciting ! Please keep reviewing, I love hearing from you. Thx Taylor
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Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or any lyrics used in my story ( I wish) I try to use things accurately from the TV show or real locations in the Lima, OH & New York, NY. But I am human and do make mistakes.
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Quinn sat back and watched Rachel carefully, it use to be that you were able to watch every thought that crossed her face. But she had built her acting skills to the point now that it was hard to tell what she was doing and thinking.
"Well to be honest there are a few reasons." Rachel finally stated as if that was going to placate her.
"What reasons?"
"Well I have been really busy here, as I am sure you can see. I didn't want to bother you, considering that I gave you a specific deadline."
"Which is true but we already hired a sub contractor to oversee the apartment, I have been informed that the demo is complete and they are currently framing out to your specific reproof of the design." Quinn muttered
"I'm sorry. I needed more room in the kitchen. The plan you came up with limited it."
"Well, I am not one to question your superior knowledge. I spend little to no time in my kitchen. I would have taken any suggestions that you have into consideration. Stop changing the subject, what is the real reason we haven't gotten there yet."
"If I may correct you. " Rachel held up a finger. "It was you that got us off topic." Rachel pursed her lips when Quinn raised a brow. "Ok well I don't really want to tell you, to be honest. I don't know how your going to deal with it."
"Rachel." she sighed frustrated.
"Fine wait here, its easier to show you." she stood up and headed out to the outer office coming back with a stack of messages, newspapers, and magazines. she handed the easily 10 pound pile into Quinn's hand.
"What is all this?"
"Gossip?" Rachel smiled sadly.
Quinn took a few minutes to look at the messages from different talk shows, media junkets, radio stations, and magazines requesting interviews or comments. Quinn still wasn't following until she saw the picture of Rachel and her coming out of Z's. It was a good picture of Rachel carefully putting Quinn in the car waving off paparazzi with a dazzling megawatt Berry smile. The next one was a candid shot of Rachel laughing as she was dragging and pulling a startled or scared Quinn up the stoop to Rachel's building. They had twisted the situation with a caption. "Apparently Berry's new conquest has heard the rumors of Xiomara's wrath. But that didn't keep her from spending untold hours with the diva."
Quinn realized at once what the problem was. "Are you trying to protect me?" she laughed?" Surprised at the complete opposite of what she had feared.
"Of course that is what I am doing. You are oblivious of the way this can ruin someone. Quinn you were oblivious of what has been going on, your very lucky that they haven't figured out who you are, or it would be a nightmare."
"But it isn't true. We are working together, we are old school friends."
Quinn laughed and pushed the pile of offending madness away from her and
pulled her wrap closer to her. "Who cares what they are saying."
"Ok so who cares. I guess that you forget that all your clients care? What about your mother? What about your friends?" Rachel took a deep breath.
"What about Beth."
"No one but Beth matters and I can call her today and speak to her before
it gets out of control." Quinn shrugged her shoulders.
"What about what they dig up of they find out who you are? What if they found out abut Beth, or go knocking on your mother's door, of Shelby's. They are trying to paint you not only as a lesbian, but a home wrecker. None of this is true but can be very damaging to your life and personal career. I don't want to let that happen Quinn."
"You have friends don't you? I am sure not everyone that you are friends
with has been considered a love interest."
Rachel sat down defeated. She didn't want to admit the truth that she had very few friends, that she spent most of her time with cast members or her gay male freinds like Yarin and Nathen or Kurt and Blaine. But worst she didn't want to tell Quinn that Xiomara was a friend of hers first before their romantic relationship developed. Most straight friends didn't like hearing that their 'friend' liked to turn out straight girls for shits and giggles.
"Well I don't go out much I am a home body, so you and I hanging out will
be new and out of the ordinary...therefore they will hound you."
Quinn nodded, understanding now at least what was going on in Rachel's mind. "I think it was wrong of you to make that decision out of my hands, but because you did it because you were trying to protect me I don't have the right to be angry."
"I appreciate that." Rachel sat down across from Quinn, smiling when Quinn handed hers to her. "Thank you, it is very thoughtful of you to bring me lunch."
"I figured it was my way in, I was planning to hold it hostage until they let me in to see you. Had no idea it would be this easy." Quinn joked looking around the place. "Interesting design you have going here."
"We can't all have designing degrees from Yale, Quinn. I just needed someplace that would help me keep organized with the projects that I am involving myself with." Rachel sighed. "I can't function in the house now a days. One I don't want to be there two it is so disorganized I can't think straight. Most nights I just sit in the solarium and pound on the piano."
"See ! We could have gone to a movie or dinner, maybe even a show together. Then you wouldn't have been bored, and you could have avoided your disorganized house."
Rachel rolled her eyes, and deadpanned a look at Quinn. "Oh that would have been a marvelous idea!" she took a quick bite, and leaned back into her chair. "They would have been all over us, snapping pictures and speculating what we where doing and who you are."
Quinn ignored the dramatic from the woman in front of her, and continued to eat. Rachel had always exaggerated everything in a very dramatic way back in high school. It appeared that it was still very much part of the Berry personality. "Ok so you say that they are all over the place. Why aren't they hounding you here?"
"Because they don't know about here. And I plan to keep it that way for a very long time, or at least as long as possible."
"And exactly how do you go about evading them exactly?" Quinn laughed, sipping her diet coke.
"Well if I do say myself it really is quite clever. I take my car to Remington Records, pull into the underground parking lot, meet up with Yarin, and we head out in his car from another exit." Rachel smiled, then frowned. "I guess that would work for you and I to hang out too. But not in the city, maybe we could go to Atlantic city this week end, give us something to do."
"Well there is a place that I have been wanting to go. " Quinn muttered. "This weekend will be one the last weekends that they will be having it, it's a bit of a drive, but if you think the only way we can be friends is out of the city, then maybe this will do."
"What is it?" Rachel leaned forward Quinn's face was all lit up like a child's. Food forgotten she watched Quinn feeling a smirk creeping up her face.
"It's this cool festive that they have in Rhode Island, its called WaterFire. My roommate at Yale use to go once a year. "
"Have you ever gone?"
"No I should have, but I never took the time in school. And then I have been working nonstop since getting out of college. Plus if I am honest I didn't want to go alone. I never really thought anyone would enjoy it, like I would. But you will love it, there are local artist that come out and fill the streets with their music, paintings. What do you think. Want to take a trip up on Saturday?" Quinn asked
For some reason that Rachel wasn't able to understood, she felt a pull on her soul. She looked at the beautiful woman across from her and realized the parallel between them. The were both successful women, without anyone to share that success. Unaware that though they had reached their dreams, in the process they had pushed people to the side, refusing to allow anyone to get in the way of what they wanted, and also keeping themselves intact to avoid being hurt. Rachel felt the kindred spirit in Quinn. Because of that she couldn't refuse the fragile line of trust that Quinn was slowing unwinding her way,
"Of Course, it sounds like so much fun!" Rachel smiled genuinely over at the blonde that looked very relieved that Rachel wasn't refusing her suggestion. "I'll be right back. Just need to know one thing. Do you work on the weekends?"
"When I have to or I am sick of being at home." Quinn admitted and shrugged her shoulders as if that was what normal people did.
"Ok, be right back. " Rachel left her office , leaving Quinn to finish her food. Rachel smiled looking at Yarin as he sat in the corner eating his lunch with Nathen. "Hello Lovers."
"Ms Berry., as I live and breathe , you look better and better every time I see you." Nathen got to his feet and pulled her into a hug, after bending in almost half to reach her. Nathen was almost 7 feet tall.
"You are such a charmer." she kissed him on the cheek and hipped Yarin's desk. "Enjoying your lunch?"
"Yes I disconnected our phone line. This is the most peace I have had in 2 weeks, thanks to you."
"I know which is why I am here to tell you that I am sorry and that I love you. I want you to both to get away for the weekend, you both deserve it!"
They both looked at her in shock, ok so maybe she had been needy the last few months since Kurt and Blaine had spent the last 6 months out of the country. But they, the four of them were the best friends that she had ever had. "So I need you to do two things. I want you to stay the weekend at my time share, how about a second honeymoon on me, to Atlantic City since you both have so much fun when you go. It will not be to far for you to drive to get there, and I still have that account set up from last time. I am never going back there after that incident, damn now I am thinking about it, anyways go have fun. Drain the account or save some for next time. But I also need you to book me a 2 bedroom hotel suite in Rhode Island near the WaterFire festival. Quinn and I are going to escape the city as well. Stop looking at me like that!" she demanded when they wiggled their eyebrows in unison. " For the 900th time Quinn is straight, she is my friend, the entire world things I am U-hauled to Xiomara. And Quinn isn't interested!"
"Not interested in what?" Quinn asked from the doorway. She watched as Rachel flipped around and every bit of her skin ran flush head to toe. It was very comical how overly dramatic she was.
"Never you mind Nosy Fabray. " she said hotly. "Yarin make the reservations, don't let them bullshit you about last minute. I want the best, views, room, and a spa package. Drop my name if you have to but keep my name off the reservation. "
"Yes dear" he laughed, picking up his phone. "I think they have a historical hotel there."
"Book it." Rachel headed back to the office, when she noticed Quinn looking a little lost.
"Hey your Nathen McKight." she laughed catching on. "You have the best buzz beater from full court I have ever seen." Quinn smiled . "How does the team look this year?"
"Like a hot mess as usual. I have another year, I hope like hell some scout takes a chance to come look at out pathetic team."
"You guys are good. You just need to find a rhythm, You have 5 really good players on your team, you guys just don't work well together." Quinn shook her head. "but who am I to tell a professional how to play their professional sport."
"I like you, you call it like you see it." Nathen held out his hands to her and smiled. "ok babe I am heading home I'm going to pack tonight we can head out tonight or tomorrow that is up to you. Anything that you want me to pack in particular?"
Yarin, shook his head leaned into Nathen as he bent down to kiss him softly on the lips all while Yarin gave hell to someone on the phone. "See you around Quinn." then he call out to Rachel who called back and was gone.
"What I am trying to tell you is that she will be there. This is what she is expecting. No she doesn't want that type of suite, then upgrade whose ever booked in the suite she wants she will pay the difference, she doesn't care but she will care if you can't accommodate what she wants. Yes , I will hold." Yarin muttered smiling at Quinn who turned and headed off back into Rachel's office over hearing Yarin say. "well yes that is much better yes check in tomorrow and check out on Monday. No she will not be bringing an entourage, you watch too much tv!" he said disgusted, causing Quinn to laugh.
"What?"
"Oh nothing I just really like your assistant. He is very entertaining." Quinn laughed and sat back down, watching as Rachel went over the documents of her bid. She tried to fight her fidgeting but she wasn't able to. So she stood up . " I am just going to head up stairs and see how it is coming along."
"Ok just don't take the elevator. We can't seem to find the original parts we need to repair it. I am going to have to replace it. It will be cheaper to put in two elevators then to try to replace the one. I was thinking about putting a freight elevator. A nice big one, or maybe a freight elevator and a passenger elevator. Can you think about it break down what would be best for the project and what will look appealing to the eyes?"
"Sure let me think about it. I'll be back down in a few minutes. Quinn took the steps up to the fourth and the fifth floor two at a time. She pushed open the large metal reinforced door from the stairwell. She loved the smell of new construction, she always has. The way she had planned out the floor plan she had the elevator open into what would be Rachel's living room, if they could get the new elevator that required a key card to get to the top floors that would be even better, Quinn would be able to do away with an entry door which Quinn had originally wanted. Quinn peaked in seeing the office tucked beside the kitchen, behind the stairs across from the laundry room and the dining room the majority of the space was open With huge floor to ceiling windows open to 42nd street. The Family and the Formal living room were going to be separated by a large 12 foot long fireplace, with a working waterfall feature that bad a built in aquarium through out it. She had been thinking about the design for over a month, but hasn't found the client for it yet. But Rachel would love the dramatic of it, and it's uniqueness . Quinn was happy to see that the stairs were already in and leading up to the second floor of the new apartment. Here you could see the most work . As up here there was a lot of framing, pluming , she had to break through the ceiling for the roof top access. Electric lines and pluming pipes had been run. Quinn noticed that the inner drywall had been installed for both the extra bedrooms. The four piece hall bath was green boarded the tile that Rachel has picked was leaning against the wall. They had yet to get the bathroom fixtures only have agreed on the kitchen appliances and sink because Quinn already knew what Rachel liked having seen her current kitchen. Quinn walked into the master seeing the framing for the large oversized walk in closet it was 15x15 and the matching side by side master bath that was also 15x15. Quinn had reconfigured the size when Rachel insisting that she needed a bedroom sized closet and master bath. The progress was moving quiet efficiently. But Rachel could be a slave driver, even with out letting on about hit. Her poor contractor was so out of his league. Quinn nodded her head and heading back down to Rachel's office.
"Hey I was just about to come and get you. Everything look ok up there.
"Yes there is a lot of progress being made, You must have been brow breathing them to work at break neck pace." Quinn laughed.
"Not at all." Rachel laughed and handed back the contract to Quinn. "I love the design, the only thing that we will need to go over is the dressing rooms and the orchestra pit. I need a full sized orchestra, that is fully functioning. I know that I will have to sacrifice some seating for that. But it is important.
Quinn nodded her head thinking about the orchestra. "Well Rachel if we don't have the room to drop …"
"Quinn it was built in 1900. While they didn't have the technology that we have now, there is indeed room to have a orchestra pit that is fully functioning as I made sure before I signed the purchasing papers. It will be an added cost that I am aware as well. But putting that in is a necessary we are a small theater, mostly of out props will be stored under the stage, with the orchestra having the ability to move up and down will be the best way to have the props and stage pieces to ve moved around. "
Quinn nodded again knowing that Rachel knew more about these things, never mind that she was the client. "Ok what did I do wrong with the dressing rooms?"
"well I need one that is designated for me, and it will need to be a big larger as it will be mine permanently. But the others need to be worked on you haven't designed them to be functionally, thought they are beautiful."
"OK again I know that you would no better of what you need more then I would. I will be more then happy to revisit them with you and get the design correctly. "Did you get a change to glace at bid?"
'Yes everything looks good I see you projected that the project would take roughly 18 months that is more then within the time frame I was hoping for. The price is under what I was thinking as well. How do you plan on paying your people?" she chuckled. Looking up to see Yarin walk in.
"Your all set you have reservation at the Biltmore, in Providence they are expecting you. I have also booked a spa package for both of you for Saturday morning. I didn't think to get you a rental car as you hate them I figured that you would take your car. You will have to put gasoline into it for the first time since you bought it"
"Perfect Yarin, thank you can you make a copy of this contract and then fax a copy over to Quinn's office?" smiling she turned back to Quinn who was leaning against the door jam. "OK we are all set. This weekend it's you and I in Rhode Island."
Quinn nodded wondering what she was feeling. Excitement, yes because she was finally going to be seeing WaterFire. But she was also ecstatic to be having a chance to spend time with Rachel, and not staring at the wall of her apartment. She just needed to get out more, spread her wings. Rachel was watching her as she spoke quietly to Yarin, Quinn had this weird funny feeling in the pit of her stomach as she watched Rachel turn her attention back on Yarin, as she worried her lip. The blonde watched as Rachel tucked a loose strand of hair begind an ear. Watched as she had to lean slightly over the desk to point ouit something to the man. Her shorts pulled tight against the perfectly molded mounds and Quinn felt her skin break out. What was wrong with her! Rachel cocked her hip onto the desk changing angles, and doing so her toned legs flecked. Quinn actually felt something rolling down the back of her back. "Ah listen I am going to head back to work, what time do you want to meet up at?"
"I can come and pick you up at 9 tomorrow morning/" Rachel answered distracted with the document in her hands.
"How about we meet at Remington Records and pull a paparazzi switchero? " Rachel nodded. Quinn nodded waved to them "Ok then see you tomorrow Rachel. Yarin enjoy the weekend."
Yarin watched Quinn leave, she appeared to be muttering to herself a mile a minute. He caught Rachel frowning at her parting back, then smiling when Quinn looked back and caught Rachel watching, there was a moment as they both smiled waved and then Quinn was gone. Mentally he put a check next to give Rachel a distraction, and quietly gloated to himself. For he saw something no one else had yet. But he was going to hold his cards close and watch this unfold naturally without him pulling any strings.
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