"So she was really impressed?" Polly was shocked that the call from Piper was coming from her car and not actually from a police cell asking her to come bail her out. Hearing her friend excitedly explain that Alex had accepted their proposal and they would have a contract as soon as next week, Polly said "We really should celebrate tonight. This is huge Piper!"

"I know! How about we treat the boys and go to Gramecy Tavern. It is meant to be really good and it will give us a chance to dress up fancy."

Laughing Polly agreed, "I am not sure Pete will be thrilled but its our night so lets go wild!"

"OK, I will call Larry and book a table. See you at 7?"

"Yeah, that's great, you can give us all the details then."

o0o

"She was so hostile," Piper grinned "but she agreed to go shower and as soon as she came back I knew she was relaxed."

Pete, bored listening to the women's business talk, smirked and winking across the table at Larry grinned, "yeah I am usually more relaxed after a 'hot shower' too."

"Pete!" Polly punched the man beside her before asking eagerly. "Was it the citrus one?"

"Nope!" Piper grinned "You owe me $100 it was the coffee!"

"Damn." Polly laughed "I should have guessed, she looked too hard for the softness of that lemon one."

Piper grinned "As soon as I saw her tattoos I knew I had won!"

"She has tattoos?" Polly's eyes widened. "She didn't look the type. She was all pinned up and professional."

"Not today." Piper smiled. "She looked hot!"

"Excuse me?" Larry frowned suddenly tuning into the conversation. "I thought it was a woman you were meeting."

"Calm down big boy!" Polly laughed. "It was a woman. And she was as tall as you, with a voice as deep!"

Larry relaxed and returned to his conversation with Pete, missing Piper's frown at Polly's description.

Some 45 minutes later, still no food in sight, Pete began to get restless. "Explain again why we came here."

"Because it has excellent reviews and is a top restaurant." Piper said defensively.

"Maybe if you are on a diet!" Pete shot back.

However the loud grumble from Piper's stomach had her grinning seconds later.

"This is stupid." Polly was forced to agree. "Lets go grab a steak and a bottle of red across the road.

Not even bothering to explain to the staff, the group stood and exited the restaurant and made their way across the road to the steak house. Not a chain restaurant by any stretch of the imagination, serving expensive cuts of meat and high quality wine, it was still very busy and Piper was relieved when they were finally shown to a table, even if it was by the fire exit.

Pete and Larry exclaimed in delight when they saw a large TV in a side room showing the football, and offering to go buy drinks the men made their excuses and disappeared. When they hadn't returned 10 minutes later Piper laughingly said "Why did we bring them again?"

Polly shrugged, "They cant complain we didn't offer. Let me go see if they are staying there, if they are they can order their own food and we can talk business!"

When she returned a few minutes later clutching 2 glasses and a bottle of red she grinned, "We can go sit at that table over there, its out of the way of the noise from the TV and you can tell me again what we need to do next."

So drinking wine and eagerly planning the next stage for their business the women missed the comings and goings around them. It was only when Pete and Larry, football game over, rejoined them that they took in their surrounding.

"What did you eat?" Pete asked

"Oh, we haven't," Polly grinned, "we got distracted."

Beckoning a waitress Pete quickly ordered food and more wine for them before saying "So have you finally stopped talking soap? I don't care if it smells of lemon, coffee or even beer, it is boring."

"We have stopped talking business," Piper said smiling innocently, "you timed your return perfectly we are just talking weddings now!"

Pete groaned "Piper seriously! You cannot let your mother rule your life. Stand up to her."

Piper grinned, "Yeah that's like trying to hold back the tide. Believe me the best we can hope for right now is me convincing daddy that a cheaper smaller venue makes sense."

Pete frowned and looked at Larry. "I thought you were the man. Put your foot down!"

Larry shrugged. "I don't care where we get married, just that we do."

"Ahhh. That's so sweet!" Polly cooed. Piper grinned as Pete rolled his eyes.

"Maybe you two would make the perfect couple." Pete sniggered and trying to hide her laughter Piper excused herself to use the bathroom.

She was actually glad Pete was as scornful of the wedding plans as she was, Polly's enthusiasm and Larry's lack of criticism made Piper feel outnumbered, but Pete was making tonight a little easier at least. Entering the bathroom Piper heard women talking through the walls of the stall and stopped as a familiar voice filled the air.

"Knock it off Nicky. I have not been eaves dropping, I have not been making doe eyes and you made the reservations tonight so it is a pure coincidence they are here the same time as us."

"So you are telling me the fact you spent several Fridays following a certain blonde with your eyes all night, that she is here tonight and then I find out she is the reason for your sudden afternoon out of the office is all a coincidence?"

Piper froze. They were talking about her. What was this Nicky suggesting? Hearing movement she hid in the vacant stall so they did not know she was there as they continued the conversation at the wash basins.

"It was business. Nothing more. I owed Sam Healy at First National a favour, he called it in. Deals done, the paperwork is in your in tray if you had bothered to check, and once signed business and favour done."

"So you didn't hit on her?"

"You were there Nicky, remember the big proposal. You cant have forgotten, you nearly wet yourself laughing. Piper Chapman is straight. Straight, engaged and her only interest in me was business so drop it."

Their voices faded as, Piper guesses, they made their way back into the restaurant.

Alex was gay.

Piper felt her cheeks flush as she processed the words spoken by the Nicky person. She had definitely implied Alex's interest in Piper was more than professional. Making her way back to the table Piper tried not to look around to find where Alex was sitting. Grabbing her glass and swallowing the remaining wine she reached to refill her glass earning a questioning stare from Polly.

"You OK?"

Nodding trying to smile Piper said "Yes fine, except we need more wine." Standing and going to the bar she was soon aware of a pair of eyes on her, turning she saw a wild haired woman next to her grinning. Smiling awkwardly Piper turned back to look for someone to get her wine.

"Its Piper right?"

"Er… yes… sorry do I know you?"

"I work at Barney's. Nicky!" Nicky held out her hand.

Cautiously Piper accepted and shook the proffered hand wary as she suspected she knew exactly who this woman was.

"So you out with friends?"

"Yes, my business partner Polly."

"Oh, you two should come join us. We are having a celebratory sales party." Nicky nodded her head in the vague direction of the opposite end of the bar.

"Err, thanks but we are not alone so…"

"OK, no problem. Maybe see you in the office." With a wave the woman was gone. It took Piper a second to realise she had left without drinks so was there purely to talk to her.

Had Alex sent her?

Piper turned in the direction Nicky had headed and saw, and heard, a large group of women laughing and talking. How had she missed them before? She couldn't see Alex but she knew she was there somewhere. She should she go say hello?

"What's taking you so long?" Polly's voice beside her, makes her jump.

"Cant get served." Piper said before adding. "Alex is here."

"She is where?" Polly looked round.

"Over there." Piper waved a hand towards the table Nicky had returned too.

"Shall we go say hi? I could thank her in person then. Did she mention the contract, have they sent it?" Polly's excitement made Piper smile.

"I didn't see her." Piper frowned. "A woman named Nicky came over, asked us to join them. Office party it seems."

"So why don't we?" Polly frowned. Then seeing Piper's very reluctant expression asked "What did you do Piper? You said things with Alex were OK"

"They are, they were. It just felt weird. I don't know this Nicky woman, she just appeared."

"I spoke to her on the phone. She is Alex's personal assistant. In fact it would have been her you spoke to when you called this morning."

"Well it doesn't feel right to crash their party, and I can just imagine what Pete would say!" Hoping the mention of her boyfriend would distract Polly, Piper was surprised when Polly snorted,

"He wouldn't care what I do."

"Trouble in paradise?" Piper was shocked.

Polly shrugged. "Its just since Larry proposed I realised that's what I wanted too. A future, not just business. I want kids Piper. I want a husband and a home and even a dog!"

Shaking her head Piper said "Maybe Pete was right, you are much better suited to Larry!"

Finally served they took their bottle back to the table to find both men looking towards the table Piper was trying to avoid.

"What are you two up too?" Polly asked suspiciously.

"Pete was just scoring them out of ten." Larry chuckled throwing his friend under the bus, only to immediately regret it when Pete fired back, "At least I am secure enough in my manhood to not be put off because a woman is as tall as me! Your man here rated the sexy one a 4/10 because she is too tall."

Polly muttered "The sexy one?"

"Oh come on we are only messing." Pete whined.

But Piper could see how hurt her friend was and said without thinking. "She wouldn't be interested in you anyway Pete. Your not her type."

"What prefer short men like Larry here does she."

"No she prefers women, like Polly and I."

Half amused at the stunned look on the guys faces she instantly regretted her words when she saw Polly looking at her.

"She does?" Eyebrows raised in silent question Piper shrugged and changed the subject.

The rest of the evening felt awkward. Piper spent it trying to both avoid Polly's curious gaze and resist looking in the direction of Alex. By the time they left she felt exhausted. Promising to call Polly should she hear anything, Piper and Larry waved good bye to their friends and jumped into a cab.

Just as they pulled away Piper looked up and saw Alex standing with Nicky in the doorway. Neither women smiled at each other, although Nicky had the hugest grin on her face, yet Piper felt Alex gaze as if it scorched her skin.

O0o

Alex was glad to get back to the office on Monday. She loved the challenge of a new month; targets to beat, fresh challenges. Nicky was outside at her desk but Alex had been avoiding talking to her since she had dragged her outside the bar just as Piper was leaving. She knew Nicky was just trying to get a reaction out of her but her own feeling towards Piper were too unnerving to play Nicky at whatever game she had in mind. She knew Nicky was aware of this by the coffee and pastry she had found on her desk first thing, a sign Nicky was trying to apologise.

Going through her diary for the week she was pleased to see the first meeting of the day was with the returning sales department head. Getting out the projections from Piper, plus her own notes, she also grabbed the bag of product Piper had given her. Having decided to distribute amongst her team she pulled out a few items to hand over to Suzanne as she would be taking over the account, the rest she would give to Daya to distribute and get each girl to write a review that could go alongside the product.

Welcoming Suzanne, her counterpart for national sales and marketing, Alex quickly brought her up to date on Pipers contract, and suggested the possibility of using Daya to repackage the product.

"Why?" Suzanne frowned. "I like the little flowers. PoPi/Poppy, its cute."

"Its sickly!" Alex stated bluntly. "We can sell this as a high end product, it needs to look professional. I have the contract drawn up here, go over it, I'll get Daya to come up with some concepts and hand them over."

Sensing Alex had no interest in her own ideas Suzanne grabbed the bottle and left. Stopping to sit on the corner of Nicky's desk she whispered "What's wrong with her. She takes everything so seriously. Girl needs to get herself some, loosen up a bit!"

Nicky sniggered but knew better than to agree. She watched Suzanne walk back to the elevator before entering Alex's office. "So did she agree to Daya doing concept drawings?"

Alex nodded, not bothering to explain she hadn't given her a choice. Handing the rest of the product to Nicky she said "choose a bottle, try it then give me a review, get the others to do the same, you can use the showers in the executive suite, just give the girls the key. I need reviews by 1 so I can hand them to Daya. I need her drawings by 4."

"but boss…"

"4 Nicky. We need that contract in the post by close of business."

Nicky sighed. Suzanne was right, the boss needed to get herself some!

o0o

"you didn't say they were going to change the packaging."

"I didn't know."

"Did you know about the short contract too? 3 months is stupid Piper… hardly worth bothering."

Piper frowned. "I am sure she said a year, with a 6 month get out for both sides. Maybe I misheard. I was excited."

"Or maybe," Polly grinned, "she was excited when you offered her a free massage but when she realised you weren't interested, because you turned her down in the restaurant, she made the contract short."

"Don't be stupid. Number 1, I didn't turn her down, I turned her assistant down. And number 2, after the lecture she gave me on the professional way to conduct business she would not be so unprofessional."

"So what do we do?"

Piper frowned she knew the answer she just didn't want to do it. "We call I guess." She admitted reluctantly.

Polly picked up the phone and dialled the number on the letter in front of her.

"Yes hello, please can I speak to Suzanne Warren. Yes, hi. My name is Polly Harper. I received a contract this morning for my company PoPi. I wondered if you could explain the reason for the change in product packaging and the short contract length."

Piper watched as Polly listened tot the reply before thanking the person she was speaking too and disconnecting.

"Well?" Piper frowned.

"It seems the packaging idea was Alex's she said our product was 'high end' and needed to reflect this in the packaging. The contract length she thinks is an error. She is getting someone to call us back."

Sighing Piper said "I liked our packaging."

"But high end is good Piper. It means they are willing to take it seriously."

Shrugging Piper sipped her coffee, "what did the new woman sound like?

"Hard to tell. She sounded scared of Alex. Said it had been decided before being passed to her and the new designs had been drawn up in Alex's department."

"I thought she was handing us over, not staying involved."

"I told you.. she liked you!" Polly winked.

"Stop it." Piper laughed at her friends teasing. There was no way she would admit to Polly how her words thrilled her though, her feelings were confusing enough to herself without have to try to justify them to her friend.

30 minutes later Pipers cell phone rang. Not recognising the number she answered with an abrupt. "Yes? What?"

"OK, so not only do you need lessons in how to conduct a business meeting but we need to add product design and answering the phone to the list."

"Alex!" Piper gasped, thrilled at the sound of the husky voice in her ear. "Hi."

"Hey kid. Look Suzanne just called. I hear she screwed up on the contract. I will get Nicky to redo it and bike it over to you this afternoon. Will you be home?"

"I'm at Polly's."

"Great. Stay there, you can both sign it and send it back. That way we wont have to wait on the post."

"Sure OK. Thanks."

"No problem kid. Bye."

Piper held the phone away looking at it in her hand. One minute there then gone. Shaking herself she looked at Polly who was watching her closely.

"Well?"

"Nicky is redoing the contract now. They are biking it over."

"So while we wait we can discuss the topic you have skilfully avoided for days, and you can explain exactly how you found out Alex was gay, and why you blushed scarlet when you heard her voice."

Piper, cursing silently, had managed to avoid this topic until now but falling into Polly trap sighed.

"I was in the rest room at the restaurant. She was in there talking to Nicky. They didn't know I was there. Nicky mentioned her being gay."

"That's it?" Polly was disappointed.

"Yes." Piper lied. "And I was red because hearing her voice reminded me of our meeting and how unprofessional my idea sounded. She just reminded me of it and said I also needed lessons on how to answer a phone!"

Polly sniggered. "She doesn't mess about I'll give her that."

Relieved Polly had bought her excuse, Piper made more coffee and they sat down to wait for the contract.

"That was quick!" Polly grinned when only an hour later there was a knock on the door.

"Hey! Come in." Polly was grinning when she returned to piper leading a leather clad Nicky into the kitchen. "Love the leathers." She laughed. "Coffee?"

"Great thanks." She smiled at Piper. "Hello! We meet again. But today I am here in my professional capacity." She handed Piper the large manilla envelope. "I have post-its where I need you both to sign." she grinned.

Piper smiled, however abrupt Nicky was she couldn't help like the woman. "I assumed you would be sending someone else with these."

"Yes well it is not often I am entrusted with the bosses beloved bike. So at the first opportunity I grabbed it."

"That's Alex bike?" Polly eyes widened. "She doesn't look the type."

"And what type is that?" Nicky asked grinning.

"Oh she just looks so professional. I mean I know Piper said she was different when she went to her house but -"

"You went to her house? That address you gave me was her home address?" Nicky cackled. "Oh that's ballsy! No wonder you have her in a tizz. Yes the bike is hers, she says it cuts through he traffic, saves her time but she loves it. I mean seriously loves it. When I get back she will be waiting to go over every inch for scratches!" Turning to Piper she asked "So how was she different?"

"Oh I don't know." Piper suddenly felt awkward, like she was betraying a confidence.

"Well whatever happened between you two sure has her flustered."

"Nothing happened!" Piper all but shouted, earning another cackle from Nicky and a more than curious look from Polly.

"Well now I have done my bit and got this signed," Nicky waved the contract "all that's left is for me to invite the pair of you for a celebratory drink tonight. You know the bar," she winked at Piper, "has fond memories for you I'm sure. 7 o'clock, be there."

She left the two women staring after her and they heard the engine roar to life before either of them moved.

"We cant go." Piper said firmly.

"Piper we cant not go. But tonight it will but just us two. There is no way you are taking Larry as a buffer. I am not sure what is going on with you and Alex but you will not have him to hide behind tonight."

O0o

"Over here Blondie!" Nicky's loud voice travelled across the packed bar to Piper and Polly as they stood looking round nervously. Smiling and pulling Piper along behind her, Polly made her way to the table. "Hi" she grinned at the group of woman all looking towards them

"Hey!" Came the responding chorus. Sitting down they soon had beer pushed into their hands and a flurry of questions firing at them.

"That coffee scent. Its so authentic, is it real coffee?"

"The oil, its so smooth, I nearly fell asleep."

"Do you make them yourselves?"

Piper laughed, relaxing as she realised all the women gathered were part of Alex's team and had tried their product and had enjoyed the experience as much as she had promised Alex they would. Glancing round she also noticed Alex was missing. Not wanting to ask where she was, sensing Nicky watching her and guessing who she was looking for, she focused in on Daya. "So you are drawing the new packaging design."

Daya grinned "Did you like it?"

"I haven't seen it." Piper admitted. "We were told by Suzanne Warren it was changing but not shown any designs."

"That woman is useless!" came the husky voice suddenly from behind Piper causing her to spin and nearly fall off her chair.

Dressed once more in a business suit, glasses this time perched on top of her head, she grinned as she placed two more large jugs of beer on the table to resounding cheers. Pulling a stool from the table behind to the space next to Piper she smiled "Hey kid."

"hi." Piper smiled back.

Tearing her eyes away from Pipers, Alex forced herself to look at Nicky who she knew would be taking mental notes of her interaction with Piper to torment her with later. "First thing tomorrow get the designs sent across. Then set up a meeting with Warren."

"Yes boss!" Nicky grinned. Turning to Polly she said "Suzanne is lovely, she just gets a little distracted sometimes. Today's distraction it seems was some lemon scented shower and massage oil!"

"She liked it?" Polly asked eagerly.

"She loved it. However, she then decided that she needed more lemons in her life! So went on a shopping spree and was out all afternoon."

"She is a liability." Alex muttered darkly causing the rest of the team to laugh before jumping in to defend Suzanne.

"You don't suffer fools do you?" Polly asked looking seriously at Alex.

"No time." Alex answered curtly. "But don't worry she will sell your product just fine."

"Especially the lemon scent." Piper grinned.

"Maybe we should have a new bet," Polly grinned at Piper, "which sells more coffee or lemon."

This lead to a heated debate around the table as to the favourite of the products the women had tried. Piper grinned as she saw real passion in the arguments and knew they had a winner on their hands.

"What was the old bet?" Alex asked softly, her voice so close to Pipers ear it made her shiver.

"Which you would prefer." She admitted.

"And who won?"

"I did!" Piper grinned.

"What was your prize?"

"$100!"

"The next round is on you then kid." Alex laughed. Secretly thrilled Piper had guessed her choice. Leaning across Piper she grinned at Polly "I would give you the 100 bucks back, but she earned that win. The coffee was what I needed for me to recover from the shock of the proposition I had just had." Polly's hysterical laughter and Pipers blush had Nicky on the edge of her seat to discover the joke; so Polly spent the next 10 minutes filling in the team on her business partners rather unethical business proposition.

"Stop!" Piper laughed eventually. "I won the bet OK, but I feel the biggest looser right now, so as your boss says, next round on me."

Standing to go to the bar she was surprised to see Nicky stand too. "I'll help you." she smiled.

Once at the bar and out of earshot of the other women Nicky pulled Piper into a hug. "Thank you." Nicky grinned at a confused looking Piper.

"What for? More beer?"

"No, for making Alex laugh. For knocking her off her professional perch. For making her show she has a human side!"

Piper frowned, "you make her sound like a robot."

"Yeah well that's how she wants people to see her."

Piper thought about Nicky's words not sure how she had done anything as Alex seemed exactly the same to her, and was not paying attention when Nicky ordered.

"You ready blondie," Nicky nudged her forcing her attention back to the present.

"Tequila?" Piper questioned. "A bottle of tequila?" Her grin growing.

"Beers for wimps. This will get the party started." Nicky winked and grabbed the bottle leaving Piper to settle the bill and grab the glasses.

"- So Carole has decided small is not best and has not only booked The Plaza, but found 10 distant relatives to be bridesmaids."

"You really weren't kidding when you said your mom would not be nice as a favour!" Alex was astounded at the story Polly had regaled, the other women laughing along while Alex tried to remember the scene she had witnessed in the doorway to the banqueting suite.

"You were trying to get her out weren't you. When you said you loved it and felt like a princess."

Piper nodded, "At the time it seemed the only way. Others have pointed out to me I should have just put my foot down, said no. But hey, I have shit for brains right!"

It was Alex who looked shocked this time.

"You heard me."

"Yep. Twice! I was in the bathroom here when you and Nicky were laughing about me and Larry."

"Oh god I'm sorry kid. I am just not into those big romantic gestures. They seem so…"

"corny?" Piper asked.

Nodding unable to lie, Alex placed her hand on Pipers which was resting on her knee. "I know you have not got shit for brains."

"Even if I cant conduct a business meeting."

Alex grinned, "yeah, or answer the phone, you really need to work on that kid!"

A sudden outrageous gasp made the two women jump, breaking their gaze and focus once more on those around them.

"Is that true?" Daya asked looking at Piper.

"Is what true? she asked nervously, unsure which of her secrets Polly had felt free to divulge.

"That your fiancé told your mother he was happy for you to 'play with soap' until you were married and he got you pregnant."

"Well, yes but-"

"OK kid," Alex snapped "I take it back. You marry that jerk, you really do have shit for brains!"

"He wasn't serious! He was trying to impress her."

Shaking her head Alex poured another round of drinks handing Piper hers she said "You better have that. You evidently need all the help you can get."

Soon conversation turned to the relationships of the other women round the table. Piper, staying quiet, listened to Daya talking about her daughter and felt not the slightest maternal twinge. She noticed Alex laughed along as Nicky regaled them with tales of her online dating but offered no stories of her own. Relieved however the spotlight was off her, she was amazed at how quickly she felt part of this group, how with a little alcohol and some gentle probing she was willing to admit she had accepted Larry's proposal because she was bored.

"You agreed to get married out of boredom? You do know this relationship is doomed to failure."

Nicky couldn't help voice her opinion and seeing Piper shrug she carried on "You don't care?"

"Hey my parents got married because it suited them. Not for love or even unplanned pregnancy, but because it 'made sense'. They have been married 35 years. Larry's a great guy. He will have his career I will have mine. We will be fine."

"And you will be bored rigid in 6 months." Alex stated harshly. "You want to have fun, you should ditch the dude, concentrate on business and travel. Get that product you are so passionate about across America. Europe even. Go research what's already out there, in England, Italy, Asia. What's the alternative. Sit at home, changing diapers having his dinner on the table…"

Alex was looking at Piper, a challenge in her eyes, the other women began to debate the desire for career over a family, soon engrossed enough to miss Alex staring at Piper and saying quietly "You could have it all kid. All your dreams could come true."

o0o

Piper was restless. Alex words repeating in her head. What did she want more, to please her parents and Larry or to follow the dreams Alex had read so clearly in her eyes?

Waking up the following morning she knew she only had one option.

o0o

A/N: So happy you guys saw the humour in the last chapter. Thanks to everyone who favourited, followed and reviewed. So sorry I cannot reply to guest reviews personally, but thank you for taking the time to leave a message.

I am very relieved the 'slow' start to Piper and Alex relationship hasn't put people off. They will get there though don't worry ;-)