Hello, people!
Happy Saturday!
Usual housekeeping:
- Usual disclaimer applies - I still don't own any of it.
- Team Momo wouldn't exist without Midnight Cougar and Alice's White Rabbit with their red pens, or without AGoodWitch, Driving Edward, Mel, Maplestyle, and Eternally Addicted who pre-read and tell me if I'm off my rocker or not.
Keep the Rebecca nicknames coming! We got a good list going in the Lair (type LaMomo's Lair in the FB search bar and the group will pop up!).
We're back with LawyerWard today. This is the last Valentine's Day chapter.
Chapter 23 - EPOV
Overtime was, alas, a common occurrence in law firms. Bella was a dedicated worker, but not a workaholic. Even factoring in the workings of Murphy's Law, her being forced to stay two hours later than her usual concerned me.
Normally, I would have chalked it up to the nature of the beast. Our industry was demanding, fast-paced, and full of overachievers—read: career-hungry assholes. However, the firm advocated for a healthy work-life balance, because burned-out people weren't a badge of honor. On the contrary, they pointed to institutional failures and poor time management skills.
I would get to the bottom of what happened, but on another day. Tonight, Bella deserved my full attention.
"Thank you for surprising me," she said wearily.
We stood in the elevator, side by side, our hands joined, as it climbed up the two stories that divided her office from mine.
"You couldn't go to dinner—"
"I'm so sorry about that," she interjected.
I put my finger to her lips, and with a tender kiss to her forehead, I attempted to ease her guilt. "So, I decided to bring dinner to you. No apology necessary."
She nodded and leaned into my side. Having her close to me, made me yearn for her—but not in the office elevator, where security cameras recorded non-stop. Now that would be an epic piece of gossip for Radio Water Cooler.
The elevator dinged, and its doors opened on the fourth floor.
"Come with me, darling." I squeezed her hand, and she followed me.
To prevent all the food from getting colder, I'd left it in the takeout bags, hoping critical mass would conserve its heat, but I'd stuck the shakes in the mini-fridge in my office.
"You got me food from Smashers?" she asked in awe.
"I got us dinner from Smashers, complete with chocolate milkshakes. Here you go." I bent and grabbed the shakes from the fridge. "I hope these haven't completely melted."
She waved me off. "You don't go to Smashers for the gourmet food; it's more for the experience. But their avocado jalapeño smash burger …"
I chuckled. "Yes, I know you like it hot."
Her eyes grew wide. "How?"
"A little bird told me. Saved my ass when our plans went down the drain, more like."
"Ugh. Are we going to be further indebted to your brother?"
"Afraid so." I shrugged. It didn't matter. What mattered was that we finally were able to spend our evening together. "We'll think of something. But now, take a seat and let me spoil you."
She blushed. It brought to mind Em's words about her independence. She wasn't used to being pampered and spoiled. Well, I'd make it my mission to change that.
After she sat at my visitor table, I pushed the flower arrangement in front of her. "Happy Valentine's Day, my love."
"For me?" Her bashful expression nearly brought me to my knees. "I didn't get you anything … I didn't think …"
"You didn't have to. It is my choice and pleasure to spoil you today."
We'd sat in my office countless times before. Only, all of those times we were working—or rather, she worked while I desperately tried to keep my feelings for her bottled up and stored away. I was so afraid she'd catch on, that it would somehow make her uncomfortable and cause her to avoid me. But we didn't have to do any of that now. Things were so different.
She squeezed my hand. "Thank you. They're lovely." She paused to read the card, but then didn't comment.
When I looked away from arranging the takeout containers on the table, I noticed her wiping her eyes. I kneeled beside her, so I could look her in the eye. "I didn't mean for that to make you cry, love."
She sniffled. "Don't feel bad about it. It's just … I love you, Edward."
"I love you so much, Isabella."
At that point, her grumbling stomach crashed our romantic moment. "Let me feed you. Here's your usual order from Smashers."
I stood and distributed the food containers between the two of us.
She rubbed her hands in glee and grabbed the containers with her food. "Thank you, this was a wonderful idea. After the craptastic day I've had, comfort food hits the spot. I'm curious, though. I didn't peg you for a fan of burgers. What did you get?"
I snickered. "Are you stereotyping me because I drink fancy Italian mineral water?"
The startled expression painted on her face led me to believe I'd caught her red-handed.
"No, well … but … Oh, shit. Digging my own grave here. Look, you try to eat healthy and stuff, so I figured junk food wouldn't fall into that category."
"I don't mind it at all. In fact, I like it a lot. I just try to mix it up a little. My stomach couldn't handle food like this all the time, if I want to avoid getting an ulcer before I'm forty. But I have my favorites. Let's see if your Smashers holds its own."
"You still didn't answer the question. What did you get?"
I grinned at her. I was ridiculously excited about my dinner choice tonight. "I went for the triple hog—"
"Bacon, ham, and pork-beef patty. It has to be genetic—that thing is also Emmett's favorite. And to think I haven't had one since college. He won't let us live this down if he knows, will he?" She giggled, and munched on one of her onion rings. "Damn, these things are orgasmic."
Her delight in the small, simple things of life—food, company, friendship, a work ethic—endeared her to me beyond measure. I'd spent years yearning for this woman based on a surface idea of her I'd had—now I loved her inside and out. Everything about her called to me.
"But please, continue. Your appreciation of food is delightful to see. So, my brother orders the same thing?"
With a mischievous glint to her eyes, she shook her finger at me. "Nope. I don't want to talk about Emmett tonight."
"And what is it that you want to talk about? Do tell."
She wiped her greasy hands on a napkin, then leaned her head on her steepled fingers. "Is it normal that I want to do away with Rebecca after one day? She's had us running around like headless chickens all day. We lost weeks of work because of her. I'm asking because you know her."
I groaned. My earlier interaction with her had made me suspicious. She was certainly trying to position herself as better than anyone, and if there was one trick that normally didn't work inside the walls of CCM Legal, that was it.
"I know of her; I wouldn't say that I know her as a person now. Remember, we didn't really run in the same circles. However, some things that happened today didn't give me a good impression. Whatever you want to do, tread lightly. Last thing I'd want is for any of it to reflect negatively on you."
She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry for bringing up work stuff. You went to all this trouble so we could still have a nice dinner after I derailed your plans …"
"Hey. You didn't derail anything. We're both in demanding jobs. Shit happens. And if you can't talk about your life at work with me, what are we even doing together? I want us to be able to share our lives. I want to be there for you."
I slid my chair closer to hers, and she leaned her head on my shoulder.
After another tortured sigh that ended in a huff, she continued. "She drives everyone nuts. Her attitude is awful. But, I can't say anything about her performance or skills as a lawyer. I don't have any basis for my remarks other than she's a pompous, pretentious, classist bitch."
"Well, maybe she'll do everyone a favor and get enough rope to hang herself. Give it time. These things have a way of finding a resolution, eventually. Now, I have it on good authority that chocolate milkshakes make everything better."
She smiled and held up her plastic cup. "Cheers, Sparkly."
"Cheers, my love."
It was at the bottom of the ninth, but we'd salvaged at least some of our first Valentine's Day.
More info about Rebitch in here.
See you all next week!