Unfinished Business, Unresolved Feelings chapter 7
Amanda often sat and worked at Lee's desk. She'd lost count of how many times she had used the computer on Lee's desk to do research or write reports for him. Their shared office had become a place where Amanda felt comfortable whether she was there with Lee or there alone. Today was different. No matter how hard she tried she just couldn't relax and concentrate on writing the report that Billy was expecting her to complete in a matter of hours.
I can do this. I have to do this for Lee's sake and for my own. Mr. Melrose has been angry at us before but he's never seemed so personally disappointed in us before. This isn't the first time that Lee has bent the rules while working on a case, well I guess this wasn't really an official case, but it's the first time that he's ever shown such a blatant disregard for the rules. Mr. Melrose expects me to rein Lee in when he starts to go too far and I usually do. Why did I go along with doing everything that Lee wanted to do when I knew better?
Amanda was so deep in thought that she didn't hear Francine knocking on the door to the Q Bureau until Francine's quiet knock grew into loud banging. Startled by the noise, Amanda gasped and rushed to unlock the door. Francine's anger at having her quiet knocks go unanswered turned to concern when she saw Amanda's forlorn appearance.
"Amanda, are you alright? You look terrible", Francine blurted out.
"Gee thanks, Francine. Did you come all the way up here just to insult me?"
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean that the way it sounded. I'm worried about you. You look really worn out", Francine said sincerely.
"I'm sorry too; I'm overreacting to every little thing. You must know that Lee isn't in today and you never come up here to see me so why are you here?"
"Yes, I know that Scarecrow won't be in today or any day soon-"
"His name is Lee, not Scarecrow. Did you come here to gloat about the trouble he's in because he didn't listen to your advice about staying away from Blackthorne?" Amanda asked in an uncharacteristically bitter voice.
"I know his name is Lee. I care about him too. We go back a long way. Don't get bent out of shape, I mean as good friends, it hasn't been anything more for a long time. I'm worried about both of you but that isn't why I'm here."
"Why are you here?"
"Billy has an assignment for us. He wants us to get to work on it right away. Grab your purse; we have to leave as soon as possible. I'll explain the assignment to you over lunch."
"I can't leave. Mr. Melrose told me that I have to write-", Amanda began to argue.
"I know all about the report. Something has come up and Billy changed his mind about what he wants you to work on. Billy sent me up here to get you. We've got to get moving. I think you're going to enjoy this assignment; I know I will", Francine added hoping to peak Amanda's interest.
Francine could tell from the expression on Amanda's face that she'd succeeded in making her curious about the assignment. Amanda took her purse out of the drawer where she usually kept it and hurried to catch up to Francine who was already heading out the door. Francine rushed down the hall as quickly as her fashionably high heels would allow her to. As Amanda followed Francine she noticed that Francine was carrying an attaché case as well as her purse. The two women reached the Georgetown foyer, handed their badges to Mrs. Marston, and exited the building. Francine sighed audibly as she successfully led Amanda from the building without running into Dr Smyth and his Secret Service guest.
"Is everything okay, Francine? You seem to be in such a hurry", Amanda queried.
"Everything is fine. I'm starving. We are going to have a very good lunch…you'll love it. I'll drive", Francine answered while slowing her pace. Now that I've gotten Amanda out of the building I have to slow down so that I can keep her away from the Agency for as long as possible. I can't wait to see the look on Amanda's face when I tell her where we're having lunch.
"Francine, I don't mind if you drive but I really think we should discuss where we are going for lunch. Your idea of a very good lunch and mine are probably very different. I'm not that hungry and I'm on a budget. We need to find a place that is right for both of us; I don't mean to be difficult but-"
"Amanda, Billy has chosen where we'll be having lunch. It's part of the case so the Agency will pick up the tab. We're going to Chez Nouvelle Trust me; the lunch menu is fabulous, I'm sure you'll find something that you will enjoy."
"I've read that they have a wonderful menu but I don't understand how eating there could be part of our assignment. Is something illegal going on in such a fancy restaurant?" Amanda asked earnestly.
Amanda has read about Chez Nouvelle I didn't think that Amanda had any interest in the finer things in life; maybe spending time with Lee is changing her.
"Francine, are you listening to me? Why is Mr. Melrose sending us to Chez Nouvelle?"
"We're going to Chez Nouvelle because Billy wants us to watch someone who is supposed to be having lunch there today. Our assignment is to watch her and see who she makes contact with while she is there. When she is finished eating we are supposed to follow her and find out where she spends the next few hours. We have to see who she makes contact with and report back to Billy", Francine answered in a matter of fact voice as the women reached Francine's car. Francine immediately went to the driver's side door, unlocked it and entered the car. While Amanda stood waiting for Francine to unlock the passenger side door she couldn't help thinking how different things were when she was with Lee. She had come to take it for granted that Lee would unlock her door first and make sure that she was comfortably seated before he would enter the car. In some ways Lee had behaved like a gentleman since they had first met not just since they had started dating Amanda mused. Lee could go from being the most irritating person she had ever dealt with to being sweet and caring the next moment. More than anything else Amanda was drawn to the vulnerable side of Lee that he so rarely let anyone see. When Lee was hurting all Amanda wanted to do was comfort him; nothing else seemed as important she had to acknowledge to herself. All I wanted to do was be there to comfort and help Lee and now he's suspended and Mr. Melrose is more disappointed in me than he has ever been before. How am I going to be able to repair the damage Lee and I have done to our careers this week?
"Amanda, please get in the car, we have to get going", Francine said impatiently when Amanda made no move to get in the car.
"Oh, I'm sorry", a flustered Amanda answered as she rushed to get in the car. She sat down and as she reached for the seat belt she looked down at her outfit and shook her head sadly.
"What's wrong now?" Francine asked although she wasn't entirely certain that she wanted to know the answer.
"Look at what I'm wearing", Amanda implored.
Francine looked Amanda over in the same mildly disdainful manner that she usually used when considering Amanda's fashion choices. "I don't see what the problem is. You're dressed the way you usually dress", Francine answered in what she thought was a tactful response.
"That's just it. I am dressed the way I usually dress for a typical work day" Amanda answered clearly frustrated that Francine didn't understand what was bothering her.
Francine could tell that her response was only making Amanda more agitated but she didn't know why. I thought that I was beginning to understand Amanda logic but she's lost me this time.
"If you're dressed the way you usually dress for work than what is the problem?" Francine asked in a tone that suggested that she was addressing a child.
"You may not believe this but I do like to dress appropriately for whatever situation I'm going to be in. This outfit is not my idea of what I'd like to be wearing to have lunch at Chez Nouvelle." Amanda answered as Francine pulled the car out into traffic.
"Try not to worry about it. This is a working lunch and you didn't know about it in advance. Men have it so much easier. They aren't judged based on every fashion choice they make. It's not easy to be a career woman in a male dominated profession", Francine responded sympathetically.
"That's an understatement. Do you think we have time to stop by my house so that I can quickly change clothes", Amanda asked.
"Sure, that won't be a problem", Francine responded with a smile. That should kill a little time and give me a chance to find out just what's going on between Lee and Amanda. Some people may believe their "we're just friends" routine but they haven't fooled me one bit.
Amanda was surprised to be having an almost friendly conversation with Francine. Maybe they had more in common than either of them would have imagined. They were very different woman but they were both trying to succeed at the Agency and have lives outside of work. As Francine drove both women were starting to think that there might be more to the other woman than they had originally thought.