Just a little something that came to mind watching season 9´s Unwelcome Well.
The characters belong to Erle Stanley Gardner.
"He certainly is a very charming man."
Della smiled remembering meeting the prince who was so different than what she had imagined.
She looked over at Perry who was driving the car, seemingly not really listening to her, a slight frown on his face. It was clear his mind was preoccupied with something. Most likely with the meeting that had been taking place behind closed doors. She fell silent and watched the lights rushing by.
Perry stopped the car in front of Della´s apartment building and killed the engine but didn´t get out.
"Are you ok?"
"Huh?" He looked at her as if he´d only just realized she was in the car beside him.
"Yes, I´m fine. I´ll walk you to your door."
He exited the car, walked around, opened the door for her and took her elbow leading her up to the building. In the elevator he continued holding her elbow but he stayed silent and the frown had reappeared on his face.
At her door Della handed Perry the key and he opened the door and let her in. He stayed outside.
"Aren´t you coming in?"
"Well, it´s late and we have to be at the office early tomorrow."
"That usually doesn´t stop you. What´s going on counselor?"
"What do you mean? Nothing´s going on."
"You´ve been awfully quiet since we left the house."
"I´m just tired."
She fixed him with her eyes and raised one eyebrow.
"Won´t you come in?"
"Alright, fine."
He stepped inside, helped Della take off her coat and took of his own.
He walked over to the mini bar and poured a glass of scotch, which he drained in one go.
Della eyed him suspiciously.
"Will you tell me now what it is that´s bothering you?"
He sighed deeply and stood in front of the window looking out, his back to her.
"It´s just the way Mr. Klee was treating you. I hate that."
"What do you mean?"
"The way he dismissed you."
"It wasn´t the first time someone acted like this, I don´t care."
"I do. The worst part is, that I can´t tell him off.
A lawyer reprimanding his client for the way that client is treating the lawyer´s secretary would look like a fool and may call attention to an… improper relationship."
"I see. That´s it. Our "improper relationship" is bothering you."
It was Della´s turn to sigh.
Perry turned around.
"No. Our relationship could never bother me.
It´s just that I would like nothing more than to tell people like that off.
To tell them to stop acting like this. To protect you. Because you are not "just a secretary", you are the most important person in my life and I would like to be able to show the world how much I love you."
"Oh, Perry."
Tears appeared in Della´s eyes.
He quickly made his way towards her and took her face in his hands, gently wiping away the tears with his thumbs.
"Please don´t cry, baby."
"I´m sorry."
"You don´t have to be sorry. While there´s nothing in the world I´d like to do more than marry you, I have accepted your reasons but there are still days like this, when I simply want the whole world to know, so that nobody ever dismisses you like that again."
Della buried her face in his shoulder. Perry gently stroked her back.
"It´s really a pity."
"What is?"
"Klee´s behavior ruined the whole mood."
"You were in a certain mood?"
"Definitely. Remember when you came down those stairs?
I have never seen a more beautiful woman in my life."
Della stood on tip toe, moved her arms around his neck and they started kissing.